Posted by Robert Bruce Wilson on June 29, 2009, 5:10 pm
192.139.27.18

My late uncle (passed away Sunday 28 June) Uncle Richard (Dick) Wilson was a respected member of your Veterans group, as well as an active member during WWII in the Hong Kong campaign. I wanted to share my "Thank you Uncle Dick" as a letter to the editor. Please advise that you would be able to include this as part of one of your editorial sections, and contributions to the Hong Kong Veterans community. Respectfully submitted. Mr. R. Bruce Wilson, (Calgary, Alberta) Thank you Uncle Dick To RICHARD WILSON - June 22, 2009 I wanted to make sure I had a chance to thank you for all you have contributed to my life and the Wilson family. Thank you for: • Being born and raised during the Depression years, so you learned the value of a dollar and what it represents and the value of helping others in need. • Riding the “rails” to find work, and send money home to support your mother, your sisters, and my dad in Virden, Manitoba. • Defending Canada’s freedom during WWII when you gave unselfishly of your time and talents to defend Hong Kong. Unfortunately , the war turned against you and you persevered as a prisoner of war in some very intense and difficult years. You emerged battered but proud of your contribution – thank you for that! • Keeping Manitoba/western Ontario “on the move” with Greyhound, in your postwar job as a bus driver – safe, courteous, and proud of your record of accident free driving and excellent service to your customers! • As a young boy, sharing with me the beauty of rural Manitoba and the fur trade and Metis historical buildings you helped me explore. • Becoming a “snowbird” with your lovely wife Beatrice, as you took an active interest in heading South to Arizona each winter. You became enchanted with the American Aboriginal Indian stories, and made great efforts to communicate and photograph their lifestyle to share with others. • Sharing with me your interest in photography, travel and gardening. I caught the first two – 2 out of 3 ain’t bad! • Giving unselfishly to others less fortunate, and supporting your local community efforts, the War Amps, Veterans Association and other projectds needing financial support (eg. Stonewall Community Hockey Rink/Arena complex) • Living long enough to be able to see many of your nieces and nephews achieve in their careers, and raise new Wilson family members, under various last names. You enjoyed meeting and spending time with my wife Carol and myself and always made us feel “at home” with you and Aunt Bea when visiting Manitoba. • Coming to see your brother (my Dad) Bob prior to his passing. Sharing childhood memories (the only ones he could remember) meant the world to us, and showed us what brotherly love was all about! • Staying alive and persevering through your latest health issues with cancer to be able to visit with me and your Dryden, Ontario nephews – we saw the ravages cancer has had on your body. Hugs and kisses don’t always convey how much “we love you”! So, Happy Birthday coming soon Uncle Dick – 91 years proud, an amazing life story worth sharing! In the words of the song that Celine Dion made famous: “there is no easy way out, When you are ready to go, and your heart is in doubt, Don’t give up on your faith, Love comes to those who believe, And that’s the way it is! Your loving nephew, Bruce Wilson Calgary, Alberta