Inspired to honour the contributions of fallen veterans
One man’s vision for an empty patch of green space along Memorial Drive N.W. has resulted in a one-of-a-kind tribute to the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers. Since 2008, a field of approximately 3,100 crosses appears each year in the weeks prior to Remembrance Day in a...
We have even more reason to remember this November 1
For as long as he can remember, Murray McCann has faithfully worn his red poppy pin throughout much of November. It wasn’t until a 2008 trip to the southern United States, though, that he realized he could be doing a lot more. Driving through Menlo, Ga., a town of...
Installation Of White Crosses Along Memorial Drive Is Underway.
The annual installation of white crosses along Memorial Drive is underway. Every year volunteers put about three thousand crosses along the road near Centre Street. The crosses represent Alberta soldiers killed in war time or during peacekeeping duties. Each cross has...
Annual Field of Crosses along Calgary’s Memorial Drive returns to honour fallen veterans
It’s been a somber work-in-progress honouring war’s sacrifice its founder hopes will grow no more. For the fifth year crosses, each denoting one of the 3,000 southern Albertans who lost their lives in Canada’s conflicts and peacekeeping, have been planted on the north...
Ceremony marks legacy of ‘field of crosses’ founder
CALGARY- A solemn ceremony was held at sunrise on Thursday morning, in honour of a Calgary man whose vision and determination helped establish the field of crosses along Memorial Drive. George Bittman was a navy veteran and former head of the Poppy Fund, before dying...
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the Calgary Naval Veterans Association (CNVA). Their support enables Field of Crosses to continue our mission of honouring over 3,600 Southern Albertans and the 120,000 Canadians who gave their lives in service to our country. Thank you CNVA - your generosity will help to ensure the Field of Crosses remains a meaningful and enduring place of remembrance for generations to come.
Pictured: (L) Scott Hauser, Donations Chair CNVA with Sean Libin, Chairman Field of Crosses Board of Directors (R)
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Every February, Canadians come together to recognize Black History Month and honour the remarkable impact Black Canadians have had on our country. It’s a moment to learn, reflect, and remember the stories that have shaped our shared history.
This month also offers an opportunity to highlight the life of Samuel Watts, whose sacrifice is honoured each November at the Field of Crosses.
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐬, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐃.
35 – Pte 50th Bn
Date of Death: 22/08/17
Samuel Daniel Watts was born May 25, 1882 in Texas, USA. Samuel immigrated from Oklahoma to Canada and at the age of 34 enlisted in Olds, Alberta – joining the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) and was assigned to the 50th Battalion. He was also a member of the 187 Battalion Brass Band.
Samuel was only one of a few African-Canadians to have served during the First World War – yet despite the hardships they faced, he bravely served his country like all of the others who went off to war.
Samuel was killed on August 22, 1917, leaving behind his wife Margaret and three children. He was well known for being a cook, a western song writer and a brilliant inventor with several patents pending in Ottawa at the time.
Samuel Daniel Watts is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
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𝐉𝐎𝐘𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆 𝐀𝐅𝐂
Age: 25 – S/L RCAF
Date of Death: 13/02/1946
Robert Gray Joyce was born on October 17, 1920, to Amos R and Elsie Joyce of Calgary, Alberta. Robert attended Cresent
Heights High School and later worked for the Royal Bank of Canada as a Junior Ledger Keeper and Bank Teller.
During World War II, Robert served in the Royal Canada Air Force. He rose to the rank of Squadron Leader Pilot with the 435. Transportation Squadron. The squadron operated Douglas Dakota III aircraft and trained in Chaklala, India. In December 1944 they moved to an airbase near Tulihai, India, just 30 miles west of the Burmese border. Their missions involved supporting the 14th Army during the Burma reconquest. On September 1, 1945, the squadron relocated to Down Ampney, England where it became operational.
On February 13, 1946, at the age of 25, Squadron Leader Robert G Joyce tragically died in a plane crash while piloting his Dakota III aircraft. The aircraft carrying 24 passengers and military personnel, encountered poor visibility due to low cloud cover and mist. It crashed into high ground near Warlingham, Surrey. Eight personnel, including Joyce, lost their lives in the accident.
Posthumously, Joyce was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) and was mentioned in dispatches (MiD) for his service. He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England.
During the Eleven Day of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta, commemorates Squadron Leader Robert G Joyce.
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Thank you to Sandeep and the entire Friends Pizza and Pasta family for their generous donation through their special promotions and the sharing of profits from their November 11 and November 28 sales.
The Field of Crosses is truly grateful for their continued support.
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day is recognized on January 27
On January 27, 1945, during the Second World War, soldiers of the Allied Soviet Red Army, the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front liberated the German NAZI Concentration Camp called Auschwitz located in the town of Oświęcim in occupied Poland.
Auschwitz, Birkenau and Monowitz were the three main combined camps and the most infamous of all NAZI Germany concentration camps. Between 1940 and 1945, about 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz and of these 1.1 million were murdered. These prisoners were mainly European Jewish people, along with non-Jewish Polish, Roma (Gypsies), Soviet prisoners of war and many other people of various nationalities. In August 1944, there were more than 135,000 prisoners across these complex camps.
Early in January 1945 it appeared that only 67,000 prisoners remained alive in Auschwitz. With the Allied Soviet Red Army advancing westward across Poland, the German SS guards evacuated almost 60,000 Auschwitz prisoners on a forced death-march westward to the towns of Loslau and Gleiwitz. Many prisoners perished in the winter conditions and the remainder were loaded onto trains and taken to concentration camps in Germany and Austria.
On January 27, 1945, the Soviets freed 7,000 starving prisoners remaining behind in Auschwitz.
Over 230 Allied Soviet soldiers died in combat while liberating these camps and the cities of Oświęcim and Brzezinka. The Soviet soldiers attempted to help the survivors and were shocked at the scale of NAZI crimes.
The United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly on 1 November 2005, established 27 January as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution urges every member nation of the U.N. to honor the memory of the Holocaust victims.
Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Cross in Calgary, Alberta commemorates 22 Jewish servicemen.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
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