Why are we here? Written and Read by Lorraine Pollock, a Member of Sussex Community in Bloom.
The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) is Canada’s oldest continually serving cavalry/armoured regiment. Established on 04 Apr 1848, the Regiment has resided in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada for the entire period of their 167 years of service. The history of the Town and the Regiment has been closely linked for that whole period.
During WW II, the Regiment was called to active service in 1940 and they eventually traveled overseas as the 5th Armed Regiment. In early 1945, the Regiment was moved from the Italian campaign, up through France to the battlefields of North-West Europe and they fought their way through Belgium and finally into the Netherlands where they ended the war .
On 05 May 1945 the following message was flashed to the Regiment and duly recorded in the Regiment History: Cancel all offensive operations, ceasefire at 0800 5 May 1945.
The Regiment stayed in Netherlands an extra 9 months helping to rebuild villages and towns. Many connections were made and recognized with thanks by the Dutch. Within the holdings of the 8Hussars museum, are significant artifacts and documents related to the period between Jan – Dec 1945
Last year, as a tribute of respect to the Regiment, and as a sign of friendship between the communities of Sussex and Tynaarlo, it is agreed that the municipalities shall fly each other flags supplemented by the Regiment pennant on 05 May annually. The ceremony to fly the flag will be conducted at 0800 hrs at each location.
The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) is Canada’s oldest continually serving cavalry/armoured regiment. Established on 04 Apr 1848, the Regiment has resided in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada for the entire period of their 167 years of service. The history of the Town and the Regiment has been closely linked for that whole period.
During WW II, the Regiment was called to active service in 1940 and they eventually traveled overseas as the 5th Armed Regiment. In early 1945, the Regiment was moved from the Italian campaign, up through France to the battlefields of North-West Europe and they fought their way through Belgium and finally into the Netherlands where they ended the war .
On 05 May 1945 the following message was flashed to the Regiment and duly recorded in the Regiment History: Cancel all offensive operations, ceasefire at 0800 5 May 1945.
The Regiment stayed in Netherlands an extra 9 months helping to rebuild villages and towns. Many connections were made and recognized with thanks by the Dutch. Within the holdings of the 8Hussars museum, are significant artifacts and documents related to the period between Jan – Dec 1945
Last year, as a tribute of respect to the Regiment, and as a sign of friendship between the communities of Sussex and Tynaarlo, it is agreed that the municipalities shall fly each other flags supplemented by the Regiment pennant on 05 May annually. The ceremony to fly the flag will be conducted at 0800 hrs at each location.
Now the new twist:
As Canada’s major importer of Dutch Bulbs, Vesey’s recognized that a celebration of the very special 70th anniversary ending WW2 was incredibly important and should not pass by without their involvement. Commencing with discussions that began in the Fall of 2014, Vesey’s has worked closely with the Canadian Garden Council, The Canadian Tulip Festival, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and the National Capital Commission to see how it could be possible for them to replicate the original gift of 100,000 tulips to the Canadian people.
Since Vesey’s customers are spread across the entire nation, the company wanted to make this a truly Canadian Gift. To accomplish this goal, they made available 140 tulip gardens, each containing 700 red & white tulips, to various communities across Canada. Communities in Bloom made an application for Sussex and was honoured to be selected. There will also be 7,000 red & white tulips donated to the Canadian Tulip Festival for a planting in Ottawa this fall as a reminder of both the original gift and the Anniversary gift from Vesey’s Bulbs.
Today we have included representatives of school children, Mrs. Dunfield and her Grade 4 class, MLA Bruce Northrup, Graham Milnar, representing the Town, Members of the 8Hussars Museum including Borden McLellan and Scovil Brown, Veterans of the Sussex Royal Canadian Legion, Members of the CIB committee to help plant and make this a very special occasion.
With the help of Lasting Image Landscaping, Vesey's and your planting and Town Works Crew, today, it is our hope, that the red and white tulips will be blooming when we raise our twin's flag of Tynaarlo on May 5 2016.
As Canada’s major importer of Dutch Bulbs, Vesey’s recognized that a celebration of the very special 70th anniversary ending WW2 was incredibly important and should not pass by without their involvement. Commencing with discussions that began in the Fall of 2014, Vesey’s has worked closely with the Canadian Garden Council, The Canadian Tulip Festival, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association and the National Capital Commission to see how it could be possible for them to replicate the original gift of 100,000 tulips to the Canadian people.
Since Vesey’s customers are spread across the entire nation, the company wanted to make this a truly Canadian Gift. To accomplish this goal, they made available 140 tulip gardens, each containing 700 red & white tulips, to various communities across Canada. Communities in Bloom made an application for Sussex and was honoured to be selected. There will also be 7,000 red & white tulips donated to the Canadian Tulip Festival for a planting in Ottawa this fall as a reminder of both the original gift and the Anniversary gift from Vesey’s Bulbs.
Today we have included representatives of school children, Mrs. Dunfield and her Grade 4 class, MLA Bruce Northrup, Graham Milnar, representing the Town, Members of the 8Hussars Museum including Borden McLellan and Scovil Brown, Veterans of the Sussex Royal Canadian Legion, Members of the CIB committee to help plant and make this a very special occasion.
With the help of Lasting Image Landscaping, Vesey's and your planting and Town Works Crew, today, it is our hope, that the red and white tulips will be blooming when we raise our twin's flag of Tynaarlo on May 5 2016.