Written in The Sarnia Journal on November 11th, 2016
“Lest we forget” is a phrase heard often this time of year.
Essentially, it’s a plea to remember the sacrifices that have been made before so that we may live in peace and freedom today.
In that spirit, The Sarnia Journal has published a special edition this week called ‘Sarnia at War,’ which honours local veterans, their families and others who rallied to the nation’s defence.
Sarnia’s military contribution is extraordinary.
When the First World War erupted in 1914 the town had fewer than 11,000 people. By the time the fighting ended four years later one out of every 10 residents had enlisted.
Incredibly, Sarnians made an even greater sacrifice in the Second World War. Some 3,000 men and women – a staggering 16% of the population – served before hostilities ceased in 1945.
Sarnia at War owes its genesis to the Sarnia War Remembrance Project, a growing record of fallen soldiers from the Boer War to Afghanistan. It also features a “memorial wall” honouring the names of all 306 fallen Sarnia soldiers as well as 18 feature stories.
Most of these stories have never been told before and represent countless hours of research, interviews and fact checking.
Sarnia at War was delivered to 30,000 homes and apartments this week, and is available for viewing on our website at www.thesarniajournal.ca
– George Mathewson, editor
The Journal would like to thank the roster of talented writers and researchers who embraced the task. They include Tom Slater, who teamed up with fellow researcher Tom St. Amand, Journal columnist Phil Egan, historian Randy Evans, and contributors Gary Shrumm, Lou Giancarlo and Susan Roberts.
Thanks as well to our sales team, graphics staff, and especially all of our advertisers, without whom this special edition would not have been possible.
To view the digital copy at The Sarnia Journal website. Click here.
To view all of the stories on The Sarnia Historical Society Website, click here.