Ceremony honours Battle of Hong Kong veterans
By Jensen, Randy on August 18, 2020.
LETHBRIDGE HERALD
Veterans of the Second World War Battle of Hong Kong were honoured with a special wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday at the City of Lethbridge Cenotaph in front of city hall.
The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association and the Royal Canadian Legion, General Stewart Branch #4 Lethbridge, organized the event to honour the 75th anniversary of VJ Day and the liberation of the veterans in the Battle of Hong Kong on Aug. 15, 1945.
On hand to pay respects were family members of the veterans including Lethbridge Legion Manager Master Warrant Officer (ret’d) Jeff Alden, who laid a wreath on behalf of his uncle Arnold Alden and the families of the Royal Rifles.
Chiara Gurney, great-granddaughter of Lieutenant Leonard Corrigan of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, and Miss Blackfoot Canada Kyreese Mountain Horse presented a flag that was used during reunions. The flag will be retired after the last of the five remaining Hong Kong veteran passes.
The drum group Moccasin Flat from the Blood Tribe were joined by Mountain Horse and Ahhsoohpii Princess Emma Mountain Horse, who helped as they performed two honour songs for veterans during the ceremony.
The Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles were the first to be engaged in the Second World War on Dec. 8, 1941 in the Pacific and were also the last soldiers to be liberated.
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