SS Athena (From Dennis )

[Doc Vernon]

On behalf of Dennis McGuckin
Many Thanks Den

FACT SHEET- SS ATHENIA & MN VET DAY--SEPT 3[6960]-page-0.jpg

FACT SHEET- SS ATHENIA & MN VET DAY--SEPT 3[6960]-page-1.jpg

FACT SHEET- SS ATHENIA & MN VET DAY--SEPT 3[6960]-page-2.jpg

[Doc Vernon]

MERCHANT NAVY COMMEMORATIVE
THEME PROJECT (MNCTP)

NEWS RELEASE

MERCHANT NAVY VETERANS DAY OF OBSERVANCE
80TH ANNIVERSARY OF MN WWII COMMEMORATIONS
S.S. KEEWATIN
PORT MCNICOLL, ONTARIO, CANADA
8 SEPTEMBER 2019
Today – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and CEO, Merchant Navy Commemorative
Theme Project (MNCTP), joined Mrs. Wanita Stapleton, Guest of Honour, Mr. Eric
Conroy, President and CEO, Friends of Keewatin, Mr. Phil DeBruyne, on behalf of the
Hon. Bruce Stanton, MP Simcoe North, the Hon. Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North,
Mr. Ted Walker, Mayor of Tay Township, Legion Members, the general public, and more
in remembering the sacrifices and contributions made by the Canadian Merchant Navy
during WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
During WWII more than 12,000 Seamen served in Canada’s Merchant Navy, which was
popularly referred to as the unofficial fourth arm of the Allied Forces. Yet, inexplicably,
veterans were denied a pension and recognition of service by successive federal
governments for more than half a century. Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans were not
officially recognized as veterans until 1992. They finally received compensation in 2000.
The Merchant Navy Veterans Day Act (S.C. 2003, c. 17), which received Royal Assent
on 19 June 2003, established the third day of September each year as "Merchant Navy
Veterans Day." This victory was the result of efforts of veterans such as Merchant Navy
Seamen Jack Stapleton and his wife Wanita (from Wasaga Beach, Ontario), in addition
to the people from the Town of Collingwood. MN Veteran Jack Stapleton sadly passed
away in 2013.
Friends of Keewatin was the host of this observance, working in conjunction with the
MNCTP, and in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 80 – Midland,
Midland Pipes and Drums, and Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (286) Trillium –
Midland. [Select pictures of the event have been provided at the end of this document.]
Quotes
“Approaching the day of the commemoration of the sacrifices of the Canadian Merchant
Navy, in the name of the Holy Father, I wish to assure you and all the present members,
of a special remembrance in his prayers for the souls of the men and women who lost
their lives serving their countries in the Allied Merchant Navy during the Second World
War.

[happy daze john in oz]

Vernon, this should be in articles, we want it to last so the younger generation may in time come to understand exactly what they did and why,

[Doc Vernon]

Done like a Dinner John
Cheers

[Dinty]

On behalf of Dennis McGuckin
Many Thanks Den

I was fortunate to be with Dennis the day before his final voyage to Fiddler's Green. Dennis wanted this excerpt from "Fiddlers Green" as his epitaph:


When you get to the dock and the long trip is through
There's pubs and there's clubs, and there's lassies there too
and the girls are all pretty and the beer it is free
And there's bottles of rum growing from every tree

I don't need a harp or a halo, not me
Just give me a breeze and a stiff rolling sea
And I'll play me old squeeze box as we roll along
When the wind in the rigging will sing me this song



Dennis my very good, with any luck, I'll see you again one day in Fiddler's Green.

Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see you one day in Fiddler's Green

Liam Clancy - Fiddler's Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nxJaeh_cQA&t=99s

[Doc Vernon]

I have created a seperate Forum for the Memory of Dennis.
Thank You

Vale Dennis McGukin (merchant-navy.net)