Korean vets, historian Al Mann remembered
Posted By David Gough, COURIER PRESS STAFF
Posted 3 months ago
As students heard stories about local Korean veterans and local historian Al Mann, Wallaceburg District Secondary School students listened attentively in solemn silence.
WDSS held their Remembrance Day ceremonies on Monday at Wallaceburg's cenotaph under grey skies. This year's service honoured local Korean vets and Mann, who died earlier this year.
Mann's great-nephew, Mike Mann, was one of a handful of students who spoke during the ceremony. He talked about his great-uncle's accomplishments.
"He devoted his life to (Wallaceburg). I knew it was very important. I wanted to do him justice," Mike Mann said of his speech during the ceremony on Monday.
The Grade 12 student said his great-uncle had strong feelings for the community.
"He loved Wallaceburg," Mann said. "He knew everything right up from when it was settled. He had everything recorded. And you could ask him about anything in any part of town. It was incredible how much he knew about the town in general."
One of Mann's accomplishments was a book he wrote called 'No Return Ticket.' The book, which took Mann five years to compile, chronicles the histories of every Wallaceburg and area soldier who died in the World Wars and the Korean War.
The students paraded from the high school to the cenotaph. It's believed that this was the first time the school held their Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in over a decade. The ceremony in the past has always been held at the school.
It was an outstanding ceremony, said teacher Chris Drew.
"It was a nice thing for the community," Drew said. "We had people standing outside their businesses when the kids were parading by."
Drew said he liked holding the ceremony outside.
"Perfect day for it and a wonderful day overall."
WDSS principal Roberta Buchanan said she was proud of the student's respectful and mannerly behavior.
"They always impress me but today just made me especially proud," Buchanan said, noting during the ceremony all students were respectful and quiet.
"They really listened to the message."
