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Article: SS Athena (From Dennis )

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    SS Athena (From Dennis )

    6 Comments by Doc Vernon Published on 9th September 2019 10:56 PM
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 5th June 2022 at 06:11 AM.
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    Default re: SS Athena (From Dennis )

    MERCHANT NAVY COMMEMORATIVE
    THEME PROJECT (MNCTP)

    NEWS RELEASE

    MERCHANT NAVY VETERANS DAY OF OBSERVANCE
    80TH ANNIVERSARY OF MN WWII COMMEMORATIONS
    S.S. KEEWATIN
    PORT MCNICOLL, ONTARIO, CANADA
    8 SEPTEMBER 2019
    Today – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, Merchant Navy Commemorative
    Theme Project (MNCTP), joined Mrs. Wanita Stapleton, Guest of Honour, Mr. Eric
    Conroy, President and CEO, Friends of Keewatin, Mr. Phil DeBruyne, on behalf of the
    Hon. Bruce Stanton, MP Simcoe North, the Hon. Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North,
    Mr. Ted Walker, Mayor of Tay Township, Legion Members, the general public, and more
    in remembering the sacrifices and contributions made by the Canadian Merchant Navy
    during WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
    During WWII more than 12,000 Seamen served in Canada’s Merchant Navy, which was
    popularly referred to as the unofficial fourth arm of the Allied Forces. Yet, inexplicably,
    veterans were denied a pension and recognition of service by successive federal
    governments for more than half a century. Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans were not
    officially recognized as veterans until 1992. They finally received compensation in 2000.
    The Merchant Navy Veterans Day Act (S.C. 2003, c. 17), which received Royal Assent
    on 19 June 2003, established the third day of September each year as "Merchant Navy
    Veterans Day." This victory was the result of efforts of veterans such as Merchant Navy
    Seamen Jack Stapleton and his wife Wanita (from Wasaga Beach, Ontario), in addition
    to the people from the Town of Collingwood. MN Veteran Jack Stapleton sadly passed
    away in 2013.
    Friends of Keewatin was the host of this observance, working in conjunction with the
    MNCTP, and in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 80 – Midland,
    Midland Pipes and Drums, and Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (286) Trillium –
    Midland. [Select pictures of the event have been provided at the end of this document.]
    Quotes
    “Approaching the day of the commemoration of the sacrifices of the Canadian Merchant
    Navy, in the name of the Holy Father, I wish to assure you and all the present members,
    of a special remembrance in his prayers for the souls of the men and women who lost
    their lives serving their countries in the Allied Merchant Navy during the Second World
    War.
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    Default Re: SS Athena (From Dennis )

    Vernon, this should be in articles, we want it to last so the younger generation may in time come to understand exactly what they did and why,
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

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    Default Re: SS Athena (From Dennis )

    Done like a Dinner John
    Cheers
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    Default Re: SS Athena (From Dennis )

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Vernon View Post
    On behalf of Dennis McGuckin
    Many Thanks Den
    I was fortunate to be with Dennis the day before his final voyage to Fiddler's Green. Dennis wanted this excerpt from "Fiddlers Green" as his epitaph:


    When you get to the dock and the long trip is through
    There's pubs and there's clubs, and there's lassies there too
    and the girls are all pretty and the beer it is free
    And there's bottles of rum growing from every tree

    I don't need a harp or a halo, not me
    Just give me a breeze and a stiff rolling sea
    And I'll play me old squeeze box as we roll along
    When the wind in the rigging will sing me this song



    Dennis my very good, with any luck, I'll see you again one day in Fiddler's Green.

    Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper
    No more on the docks I'll be seen
    Just tell me old shipmates
    I'm taking a trip, mates
    And I'll see you one day in Fiddler's Green

    Liam Clancy - Fiddler's Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nxJaeh_cQA&t=99s
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 15th June 2022 at 08:28 PM.

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    Default Re: SS Athena (From Dennis )

    I have created a seperate Forum for the Memory of Dennis.
    Thank You

    Vale Dennis McGukin (merchant-navy.net)
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