Art Goodfellow honored at Sharbot Lake Veterans dinner

Nov 10, 2011

Photo: Legion President Patty Middleton presents Parham veteran Art Goodfellow with his lifetime membership pin

No one was more surprised at the Sharbot Lake Legion’s annual Veterans dinner on Nov. 5 than Art Goodfellow of Parham, who was called to the front of the hall by Legion President Patty Middleton to receive his lifetime membership pin. She also returned to him the dues that he had previously paid for this year’s membership.

William Arthur Goodfellow known to most as Art, who is now 86, served in the Second World War from 1942-45 as a flying officer with the 425 Air Squadron (photo left). He enlisted when he was just 18 years old and a picture of him as a young soldier is displayed in the hall’s front foyer. Art traveled across Canada while training and ended up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where his squadron flew numerous runs over the North Atlantic looking for enemy submarines. Though he says that he did not see a lot of action during his service, he jokes saying that “by day we were hunting for submarines and by night-for ladies.” Art was honored to receive the life time membership pin and it was just the second time that a Sharbot Lake Legion veteran has received the honour. Ken Hollywood is the Legion’s oldest living veteran at 93 and was the first Sharbot Lake Legion member to receive the honour a few years back.

While attaching the pin to Art’s lapel, President Middleton said, “I think this is something that you definitely deserve.”

Following the full course roast beef dinner the evening’s guest speaker, MWO Peter Manuge of Amherstview, who served for 32 years in the Canadian Forces in the intelligence branch and who is currently the Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence in Kingston, spoke of Canada's new role in Afghanistan, where they will serve until 2014.

“Canada's goal is to help Afghans rebuild a viable country that is better governed, more stable and secure and that will never again be a safe haven for terrorists,” he said. “The work will focus on four key themes: investing in the future of Afghan children and youth through the development of education and health; supporting and training security forces to advance security; the rule of law and human rights; promoting regional diplomacy; and lastly helping to deliver humanitarian assistance.”

The Legion’s annual dinner is put on every year to help celebrate Remembrance Day and as a way to honour the more than 30 Sharbot Lake Legion veterans in the community. “This is our way of showing our appreciation to all of the veterans in the community and we are always very happy to do it,” Middleton said.