Press Release
This year marks the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 75th anniversary of WWII.
To commemorate those who served, the Fort Frances Museum is partnering with the Royal Canadian Legion Br. #29 and the women’s auxiliary on an upcoming exhibit this fall.
For the purpose of the exhibit and to compile a local record, the museum invites the public to submit their family stories of those war years.
Three categories are foreseen:
•Those who fought
We are collecting photographs, related history (i.e., birth, hometown, etc.), and the story of their service (when, where, and significant memories or events).
Did they survive to return home, raise a family, and contribute to their community?
•Those who served the war effort in other ways
Many men and women worked as mechanics, medics, communications officers, etc.
Who are they and how did they contribute?
•Those whose lives were impacted by the war in specific ways
There were individuals who went to work to support the families of those who served, such as men too old or too young, high school students sent west to help with the grain harvest, and the women who filled men’s jobs.
Many others trained soldiers or built munitions.
Meanwhile, thousands of war brides left their homes in other countries to follow new husbands back to Canada.
The information we collect will be featured in our fall exhibit (September through December), and will help us create permanent records for our archives.
Every family has a story from the war years. There could be a photo of a young man who never came home, or a pressed copy of a dreaded telegram tucked into the family Bible.
There may be the story of a great-uncle who was wounded and was never the same again, or the memory of delivering that telegram.
It’s impossible for the museum or Legion to gather together every local story. But with your help, we can make a good effort.
Help us remember the contributions made by local families. Let’s commemorate those who served.
For more information, contact curator Sherry George at 274-7891 or stop by the Fort Frances Museum.
