Nearly fifty veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic were honoured during a gala dinner at the Canadian War Museum this evening.

The annual event, hosted by the Naval Association of Canada (NAC) with support from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), is in its second year, and was attended by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, PC, QC, MP for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence.

Quick Facts

• The dinner is an opportunity to highlight the contribution of past and present members of the RCN.
• During the dinner, the Admiral’s Medal was presented to Mr. Robert P. D’Aoust, who undertook a seven-year project to research the 2,143 Canadian sailors killed in the Second World War, published as a four-volume set entitled Ultimate Sacrifice.
• The portrait bust of Midshipman William Palmer, designed and created by Christian Corbet, one of Canada’s preeminent artists and sculptor-in-residence for the RCN, was unveiled. Midshipman William Palmer was one of the first Canadian military casualties of the Great War. The sculpted bust portrays Palmer as a powerful symbol of lost youth.
• Other announcements made at the dinner included the introduction of the four Canadian Armed Forces personnel who will be the sentries standing vigil at the National War Memorial during the Battle of the Atlantic ceremonies in Ottawa.
• Other VIPs in attendance included Richard B. Fadden, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Lt.-Gen. Guy R. Thibault, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
• The Battle of the Atlantic, commemorated each year on the first Sunday in May, officially ended on Victory-Europe Day on May 8, 1945. It was the longest, largest, and arguably the most complex campaign of the Second World War.

Quotes

“It gives me great pleasure to have joined nearly 50 veterans at the Canadian War Museum, to honour their contributions to the Second World War and celebrate the Royal Canadian Navy.”

Honourable Rob Nicholson, PC, QC, MP for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence.

“The Battle of the Atlantic Gala Dinner provides a wonderful opportunity to gather with our veterans and friends of the Royal Canadian Navy. On this night, we honour the sailors of our past, embrace the sailors of our present, and look ahead to our bright future.”

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy

"The Naval Association of Canada-Ottawa is proud to once again host the annual Battle of the Atlantic Gala Dinner, with the support of the Royal Canadian Navy. This Gala dinner honours and celebrates the service and sacrifice of our naval veterans during the longest and most critical battle of the Second World War, which secured ultimate victory.”

Eric Deslauriers, President of the Naval Association of Canada-Ottawa.

src:news.gc.ca