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Chicken soup, kind souls tonic for harsh
times
By Joy Asham Fedorick |
Sharing memories brings out the best in people, especially for Nov. 11 Mt. McKay ceremony
Home-made chicken soup. The gentleness of a house that has been filled with happy family
times. The honour of sharing this for an hour or two with a couple whose caring for others
fills the world with warmth at a time when life is harsh. They invited me to help remember
and to help extend thanks.
My phone rang off the wall Nov. 11 and 12. Many people with names and stories called to
tell me of contributions of Native vets and to honour them in response to my Nov. 10
column on upcoming Mount McKay ceremonies remembering Native vets. One person who called
had been cleaning his father's house and way up on top of a cupboard had found a 1919
Chronicle-Journal listing all the Great War (WWI) vets from Fort William First Nation. He
ahs promised to photocopy this for
me and send it in. When I get it I'll share it with all of you. Another phoned to say that
he had a clipping from the Kenora paper from long ago and it, too, listed more names.
People called that had wandered through cemeteries and seen the graves of the fallen and
told me where to look. Others just called to say thanks for remembering. And, of course,
Frank Banning called. And that's how I ended up with chicken soup.
Frank Banning is the man responsible for upgrading the monument site at Mount McKay. He
researched names and rounded up funds and dedicated himself to ensure that Native vets
from Fort William would not be forgotten. He called me to ask me to help him thank all
those who had helped. He and his beautiful wife Evelyn scooped me up by van and took me to
their home to talk about this over a bowl of soup.
Frank's daughter, Cathy Banning was Master of Ceremonies at the Mount Remembrance Day
services. Roy Barnes was there from the Lakehead Scottish Regiment. Father Lynch read
prayers. Gary Orwick put plaques in place and, along with Donald McLaurin, lowered the
flags. Sam Pervais, 85 years old although not a vet himself, is an Elder who took great
pride in laying
the wreath for the forgotten soldiers. Gordon Banning helped with many things as he did
last year, paying attention to details and overall needs.
Getting up to the mountain would have been impossible if it weren't for Frank's nephew Len
Pelletier who with Gary Orwick, cleaned the windfalls off the road. Vernon Nowegesic
delivered the financial donation from the Native Interagency Council directly to Frank's
house and acted as contact with the Thunder Bay Friendship Centre.
The ceremony was followed by lunch at the community hall. In preparation for the
Remembrance Day activities, Terry Bannon, wife of the Fort William Chief and Margaret
(Mugs) McLaurin cleaned and readied the hall. Frank and Evelyn's daughter Gloria Zeleny
worked with her mother-in-law Jean and with Simone Spears to prepare a wonderful luncheon.
Bill McLaurin of
K & A Variety (another nephew of Frank's), assisted to provide the food for the lunch.
Frank and Evelyn have asked me to thank all of you on their behalf for your wonderful
contributions. Those named here have all been essential to a successful memorial event.
There are many who are not named who also contributed but who wish to remain anonymous.
Our thanks go out to you as well.
I would like to thank Frank and Evelyn Banning (Evelyn did not want me to take her
picture, unfortunately) for a wonderful afternoon and for the dedication which they
consistently offer to Remembrance. Frank and Evelyn, remembering, hearing from you,
world's best chicken soup - I too am filled with gratitude. And everyone else, keep those
calls coming in! Meegwetch!
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