april 08, 2009 12:30am
August 5, 2008 A few good men
Tuesday. August 5, 2008.
A few good men.
Today was the day that I was to be on CBC. But we had our spot pulled because they didn't have the tape transferring capabilities at their Saint John radio station and the story was still hot about the head. So I had the opportunity to address a group of local Seniors who where meeting at the Legion that morning. I didn't know it at the time but after the meeting I would have the chance to meet a great veteran. His name is Bob Jones.
I went out to the Blue Bomber and packed her up and got ready for the trip to Moncton. I went back inside when the meeting was breaking up and a couple of veterans approached me, one of which was named Bob Jones. Bob invited me to his home for an interview. I thought the stop would be short and sweat but when I got there I would find out that this tour stop would be very meaningful. I said my good-byes to the staff at the legion and I was on my way. Wayne Carlton, #69's manager led me out of town. I got to Hampton NB about five o'clock and found Bob' house. I wasn't in the house five minutes when he offered me dinner and a bed for the night. I had another appointment in Sussex with a tank gunner that day but it was getting late so I decided to stay the night in Hampton. Bob and I went to the Hampton Veterans cenotaph. Bob and his wife raised the money for the cenotaph by sending letters out to people they know in the area, As we walked toward the cenotaph Bob was explaining the history of the veterans in the area. We stood in front, for a minute without taking, the day was sunny , for a change we have been having an unusually wet summer. Bob told me of the artist that came up with the design of the open cross but it wasn't tall enough so bob came up with the idea of a larger pedestal to make the overall hight at ten feet. This cenotaph is very unique and worth a stop if you are close to Hampton. Bob and his wife took me out to dinner that evening at the local restaurant. We went back to the house and met with a teacher that lives across the street, His class wrote a book on the First world war called Hampton Remembers. This book was written by students and is very well done. I had a good conversation with the history teacher of the class.
Bob and I hit it off right away, he asked me if I drank wine, I said yes, he said red or white and I said red or white he said yes anyway we had a glass of white wine and started to talk about his accomplishments in life. He is a interesting man, he told me that he had a grade 8 education. He has been the head of different labor organizations and the head man at the workers comp board. Since his retirement he has helped veterans and there widows get the benefits that they rightfully deserve. We talked about his time in the army as a stretcher barrier, We didn't get into the nitty gritty put he did tell me some good stories, some a can't repeat. Around 12 o'clock he showed me his pride and joy, his fishing room. Bob is a avid fishermen with a big collection of reels and rods both old and new. Bob and his wife gave me the first real bed to sleep in that I had seen in 45 days. It didn't take me long to fall asleep.
