‘You make the difference’

Falmouth veteran receives special thank you letter from Holland

Alvah Wile, of Falmouth, Hants County, recently received a special letter delivered to his room in the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax.

The 98-year-old veteran of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (PL) is one of four living members of the regiment slated to receive a personal letter from a student in Wageningen, in the Netherlands, commemorating their contribution to the liberation of Holland from occupation by the German Army in 1945.

The letter, delivered on April 26, was written by a young person named Elin. It came with a card that said, ‘You Make The Difference.’

In the letter, Elin said, "Through you, we now live in freedom in the Netherlands."

The letter-writing campaign was organized because Canadian veterans cannot travel to Holland in 2021 because of COVID 19 travel restrictions. And, in recent years, many veterans are not able to make the trip for health reasons.

The group, Wageningen

45, in Holland, requested the names of living veterans from Nancy Carter, editor of the Albainn, the newsletter of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (PL) Regimental Association.

“I always am so impressed that every year the people of Holland are so appreciative that our Canadians gave up their lives to liberate them. And they will never forget,” Carter said.

Since February, Wile has been recovering at Camp Hill Veterans Memorial from surgery related to lingering complications from a leg wound he received near the end of the Second World War.

“I had a sniper’s bullet take me off the battlefield on the 27th of February 1945,” Wile said from his hospital room.

“I was wounded at the crossing of the Rhine. We were in Germany then after the liberation of Holland.”

Wile said he lied about his age and joined the military as a 17-year-old from Leminster, Hants County. He recalls he served in armoured units with The Princess Louise Fusiliers.

Later, he served in the infantry with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (PL) in Holland.

“I was a Section Leader, clearing houses and getting the Germans out of the villages. It was quite an experience,” Wile said. “I am proud of what I did as a Canadian soldier in Holland. I think the Dutch people really appreciate it. And I guess most Canadians appreciate what we did.”

Wile’s daughter, Verlie Wile, of Wolfville, helped organize the delivery of the letter. She said her family is proud of her father and his sacrifice to protect the principles of democracy in the world.

“I’m thrilled for dad because he needs a lift. He needs someone to remember. This is a thank you because he has landed in the hospital because of the war,” she said.

Wile said she and her family appreciate the effort by the students in Holland to reach out to Canadian veterans.

“It is important that they know the history of the liberation of their country. Whenever we don’t know our history, we could make a mistake and repeat the horror of it,” Wile said.

“They become a part of that history by writing this letter. They can tell their children, ‘I wrote a letter to one of those men in Canada who liberated us.’”

When asked if he has a message for the students in Wageningen, Alvah Wile said:

“Tell them always work toward maintaining the peace. Make sure the world doesn’t drift into a situation where they will have another war like the Second World War.”

SHE’S HAVING

pairs of earrings. She had a lot of fun,” said Purvis.

“It takes a creative eye to be able to do it.”

Fraser particularly enjoys working with pinks and earth tones — and her earrings are very representative of her likes.

She mixes the clay to create the shading she wants, rolls it out and cuts it into shapes. With help from Purvis, the clay pieces are baked and then Fraser sands them and installs the necessary accessories to turn them into earrings.

Purvis teases Fraser, saying she is “quite picky” about the finished product. Only the best items can be sold.

“I am!” Fraser replies, laughing.

“They have to be a good shape and good colours.”

Fraser, who also works part-time at New Boundaries, said she enjoys having extra spending money so that she can go on trips with her family. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, her ability to shop and travel has been impacted. However, she’s hopeful that her planned New York trip will be rescheduled, and she’ll get to go on other adventures soon.

“This is a good way to make some extra change and that’s really important for Holly,” said Purvis.

“It’s good to highlight that work can be fun and playful.”

Fraser took an interest in the business side as well, helping to price the handmade earrings at $10 a pair, and she’s quite active when it comes to promoting her product.

When she sets her sights on making a sale, not many can refuse, Purvis noted.

“She’ll chat you right into buying something,” said Purvis, adding, with a laugh, “I’ve been on my fair share of trades.”

Fraser’s earrings are currently available at the Kings Meadows Guild retail store, which is located at the group home, and they are available to order on the group’s Facebook page.

Fraser said she’s hoping to eventually sell her earrings at local salons and specialty shops.

The mission statement for Kings Meadows is to provide “opportunities to adults with intellectual disabilities