MI's Merchant Navy Memorial ceremony celebrates 12th anniversary

The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MI) hosted a special ceremony Wednesday, August 26 to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the unveiling of a Merchant Navy Memorial at MI

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The event attracted a large crowd looking to pay tribute to the fallen Newfoundland Merchant Marines who served so proudly and honourably on British, Canadian and American Merchant Navy ships during World War II. Among those in the crowd were Merchant Navy veterans and their families, as well as families of those Merchant Navy seamen who died during the war.

“The Marine Institute’s motto, ‘Strive for Excellence,’ was originally exemplified by Merchant Marines throughout World War II,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “The Merchant Marines had leadership abilities that knew no bounds, and we hope to emulate their heroic efforts and sacrifices in the way we educate and train young men and women from Newfoundland and Labrador and from across Canada. If we can display a similar type of vigour, pride and selflessness, we will honour the very men and women whose names are engraved on this memorial.”

The ceremony was hosted by Captain J.J. Strong, national vice-president Eastern Canada and national director for Newfoundland and Labrador for the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association. Speakers at the ceremony included Danny Williams, premier, Newfoundland and Labrador; Lee Marshall, district director, NL Department of Veterans Affairs; Dennis O’Keefe, mayor, City of St. John’s; Dr. Reeta Tremblay, vice-president, Academic, Memorial University and Blackwood.

The Merchant Navy Memorial was unveiled at MI on August 29, 1997 in honour of the 333 Merchant Newfoundland seamen who lost their lives during the battles of World War II. It was later expanded to include the 337 names to those Newfoundlanders who died serving in the Canadian, American and Royal British navies during World War II. According to Premier Williams, the monument is a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed for the greater good of their people.

“The Merchant Navy seamen sailed through the narrows you can see from here. They faced threats from above them in the sky and from below them in the water,” Premier Williams said while addressing the crowd at the August 26 memorial. “I can think of no more fitting a place for a memorial than the Marine Institute. The Marine Institute continues our history of marine excellence and the backdrop for this memorial is absolutely beautiful. It is an ideal memorial for Merchant Navy seamen.”

Mayor Dennis O’Keefe spoke of how the efforts of the Merchant Navy seamen directly affect the lives of people all over St. John’s and Newfoundland and Labrador today. Speaking to Merchant Navy veterans, their families, members of the media and Marine Institute faculty and staff on August 26, O’Keefe said it is due to the heroics of people such as the Merchant mariners that we are free to assemble at the Marine Institute for a memorial ceremony. “They made a major contribution to all of our lives and there is a major connection between their efforts and the freedoms we enjoy today,” O’Keefe said. “We are free to gather like we are today, hold elections and live in the society we have because of these people.”

Newfoundland Merchant seamen served on Merchant Navy vessels that carried supplies, weapons, food and other goods across the Atlantic to Europe throughout World War II. These ships were under constant threat of attack from enemy planes and submarines, particularly during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic from 1940 to 1943. Some Newfoundland Merchant marines were too old to serve in the British, Canadian or American Merchant Navies, while others were too young, but they found a way to contribute to a cause worth fighting for.

“More than 333 Newfoundland Merchant seamen, including one woman, died during World War II while working on British, Canadian and American Merchant Navy vessels. Every one of these people is honoured on this memorial and there is no group of people more deserving of such admiration,” said Blackwood. “It is these men and women that legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once called ‘The finest small boatmen in the world.’ Their bravery, unselfishness and courageousness will be remembered forever and I am honoured to have these people commemorated on a memorial that stands on Marine Institute grounds.”

Merchant Navy Veterans Day is celebrated on September 3 of each year throughout Canada and many other Commonwealth countries. To commemorate the dedication of the MI memorial and to celebrate Merchant Navy Veterans Day, August 26 was chosen this year as the date for the Marine Institute’s memorial ceremony and service. Since this memorial was first unveiled at the Marine Institute in 1997, we have gathered here every year to celebrate its construction,” Blackwood said. “I am confident in saying we will continue to return to these ceremonies forever. We will never forget.”