9 Thursday , N ovem ber 4, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m numbers and machinery and the number of casualties, but I think the most telling word in that is that this man was a friend to a lot of other people, said Flynn. A lot of people, both here and overseas, have lost a very, very good friend, who put himself in harms way to ensure that we were free. Colonel Parker and all the other men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, who serve our country with distinction, stand as a model for us all. Those present also heard from Afghan veter- an Lieutenant Colonel Jenny Newton who told the story of Trooper Jack Bouthilliers memori- al transport truck. Bouthillier, 20, of Hearst, Ont., was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on March 20, 2009. To remember his son and all of Canadas sol- diers lost in Afghanistan, Bouthilliers father Raynald had a special truck built to serve as a moving memorial. This truck, which could be seen in the park- ing lot of the Oakville Conference Centre, not only bears Bouthilliers smiling image and name, but the names of all Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. After a slideshow documenting Bouthilliers life, the crowd gave a standing ovation to Bouthilliers parents, who had come to be part of the event. With the presentations complete, Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson (standing in for Oakville Mayor Rob Burton) and others partici- pated in a wreath laying ceremony, which gave way to the serving of lunch. Veterans were also treated to music and raf- fles during the luncheon, all of which was deeply appreciated by those who attended. It was a great ceremony, said Jim Gibb, Oakville resident. When I came back from the war four of my friends didnt come back with me. So its really important to me to be at these types of occa- sions. Gibb, who was an artillery gunner during the Second World War, participated in the inva- sions Sicily and Italy, and in the fighting that followed during Canadas Italian campaign. He would also spent five months fighting in Holland. I was very lucky, said Gibb. I was wound- ed and I had malaria, but Im here and Ill be turning 90 this month. Bob Charters, of Mississauga, was also happy with the Oakville event. This really means a lot to a lot of old timers like me. It was very nice, very good, he said. I just enjoyed all the speeches. They were all real- ly well thought out and well delivered. Charters served in the Royal Air Force dur- ing the Second World War flying bombing raids into occupied Europe. I was shot down in France in 1944 and was lucky enough to evade capture with a lot of help from the underground forces, he said. I got out over the Pyrenees (mountain range separating France and neutral Spain) then I came home for a month and then went back for the last year of the war. Roy Eddy also had nothing but good things to say about the Oakville luncheon. People are so kind and so generous, it makes you a little prouder to be a veteran than you would be otherwise, he said. Eddy participated in the invasion of Normandy landing on Juno beach. There were bodies floating all over the place, he said. A number of the guys I was with actually drowned because the ramp (of the landing craft) dropped too soon. Moving memorial honours son killed in Afghanistan Continued from page 8 ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER MOVING MEMORIAL: Raynald Bouthillier had a special transport truck built to serve as a moving memorial for his son, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, and all Canadian soldiers, who lost their lives in Afghanistan. HOPEDALE MALL 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville QEW Do rva l 4th Lin e 3rd Lin e Bro nte Rd . Lakeshore Rd. Rebecca St. Something available for all! Also: Birthday party packages, Glow in the Dark, Fundraisers, Corporate events, etc... well customize a package to ?t your needs. (905) 827-4281 www.hopedalebowl.ca hopedalebowl@bowlontario.ca #1 Winner in Bowling 3 years in a row! It isnt too early to book for New Years Eve... call for details. THANK YOU OAKVILLE . . . El Spero All Day Breakfast! Located in the HOPEDALE MALL 1515 Rebecca St. Oakville 905.827.4851 Mon.- Fri. 9am- 9pm, Sat. 8am-8pm, Sunday 8:30am-3pm OPEN SUNDAYS Special Kids Menu Breakfast . Lunch . Dinner Thank You Oakville for Voting One of the Best... GREAT FAMILY DINING FOR OVER 37 YEARS! Seniors Favourite - Diamond Breakfast - Platinum Family Restaurant - Platinum