Guiry, D.

Dave Guiry honoured by his friends

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 19th, some two hundred friends and relatives from Ennismore, Emily, Ops, Lindsay and Toronto assembled at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Guiry, Downeyville, to honour their son, Sgt. Dave Guiry, RCAF, who has been spending the past two weeks at his home on embarkation leave.

During the evening an address was read by Edward Perdue and a well-filled money belt was presented by Edward Herlihey and Fabian O’Neil.

On this the eve of your departure to join our comrades of the air in the final drama of liberation, we our friends and relatives assemble to wish you Godspeed and a safe return. We congratulate you that you have thrown in your lot with that gallant band who have swept the Hun from the sky and who in conjunction with the ground forces and our intrepid seamen are lighting once again the fires of liberty that have almost ceased to burn throughout the world. We trust that your absence will not be of long duration, as every day brings new evidence that they forces of tyranny have almost run their course, and we look forward with eagerness to the not-far-distant day when strife shall cease and we shall welcome you back again into our midst.

It is not necessary to dwell upon those sterling qualities of heart and mind and have won for you an enduring place in the hearts of countless friends and we fully realize that those same qualities will prove a tower of strength to you in a new circle of friends in a foreign land. As a tribute to your worth and as a token of remembrance, we ask you to accept this gift. May God preserve you in health and happiness until the bells of peace chime out once more and all the boys come marching home.

Signed on behalf of your friends,

Eddie, Fabian and myself (Ed)

Dave spoke feelingly in reply to the address and thanked all for their kindness to him and for the valuable gift with which he had been presented.

Mr. Guiry, in a few well-chosen words, extended a hearty welcome to all present and thanked them most sincerely for their kindness to Dave.

Mr. Wm. O’Brien, 91, one of Emily’s eldest and most highly respected residents, expressed his pleasure at being present on this special occasion and said: I am proud of Dave.

Other speakers were Peter Perdue, Jos. O’Leary, and Reeve Paul McGuire who all said they hoped the ships would soon be homeward turned and the boys return waving the Flag of Peace and Victory.

All joined in singing the Maple Leaf Forever and He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.

A dainty lunch was served by the hostess, Mrs. Guiry, assisted by the ladies of Downeyville.

The remainder of the evening was spent in games and dancing to the music of The Fox Orchestra.