Posted on 07/04/2006 7:28:44 AM PDT by SandRat
Furious veterans are renewing their demands that the National War Memorial be guarded to protect it against "disgusting" assaults after young men were caught urinating on it during Canada Day festivities.
A retired major snapped digital pictures of several people relieving themselves on the monument around 11 p.m. on Saturday, as thousands poured into the streets following the fireworks.
Most cheered and laughed when they were photographed using the memorial as a toilet on the nation's birthday.
"I think it's a national disgrace," said Dr. Michael Pilon, 63, a retired major with the Royal Canadian Dental Corps.
"It's absolutely disgusting -- absolutely disgusting," said Bob Butt, the director of communications for the Royal Canadian Legion.
"The tomb is a sacred place, the area surrounding it is consecrated as a graveyard. It's the same as if you went in and urinated on someone's grave."
The offending photos will serve as ammunition to renew the Legion's fight to protect the monument, he vowed.
Since the Unknown Soldier's remains were repatriated from France in 2000, the Legion has repeatedly asked the RCMP and city police to post guards at the memorial, at least in the summer when there is more activity on the streets, Mr. Butt said.
They were told there is not enough manpower to do so. Police patrolling the general area are supposed to keep an eye on the monument, but the perpetrators are usually long gone by the time police arrive to deal with any problems.
Dr. Pilon has also contacted several politicians and government agencies to ask that the National War Memorial be protected, to no avail.
Last year on Canada Day, he observed many people sitting and drinking on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but when he reminded them about the young soldier's grave, most were apologetic.
He noticed things becoming rowdier late at night, with several people pouring drinks on the tomb in a misguided, intoxicated tribute to the man lying below.
In early June, Dr. Pilon sent e-mails to the offices of Premier Dalton McGuinty, Mayor Bob Chiarelli, the National Capital Commission and others, identifying himself as a veteran and requesting someone guard the memorial this year.
He got no response.
Although he was "very offended" by those he caught urinating on the monument, he is more angry about the lack of action from politicians.
"You're not going to be able to control how many drunks there are out there, but keep them away from the area and have a (security) presence," Dr. Pilon said, suggesting the memorial should be cordoned off with a small fence and a plaque to explain the significance of the site.
Les Peate, 77, a Korean War veteran and the national president of the Korea Veterans Association, said ignorant behaviour is an unfortunate exception to the "pretty overwhelming" respect younger generations typically show for veterans.
"I feel very sorry that there are just a few of these idiots, a very small minority, doing this," he said.
Mr. Peate was part of the committee responsible for bringing home the remains of the Unknown Soldier. Although there was some concern at the time about placing the tomb in such an exposed downtown location, he has not heard of any problems with it until now.
"It's really saying something for our society if there's a need to put police there around the clock," he said.
The photos of the young men urinating were captured the same day Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean attended a wreath-laying ceremony -- the first held at the War Memorial on Canada Day -- marking the 90th anniversary of the battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel.
Mr. Harper described the ceremony as "very, very moving," and paid special tribute to the Canadian troops currently serving in Afghanistan.
"We want a special remembrance for them today because, obviously, they're probably doing more to make Canada proud these days than any group of Canadians," he said.
Sgt. Monique Beauchamp, a spokeswoman for the RCMP, said the force works in partnership with Ottawa police and the various government agencies who organize Canada Day to patrol the festivities, but there are no specific measures to protect the war memorial.
"I wish we could be everywhere and take care of every single incident, but the important part is to make sure people have a safe place to enjoy the fireworks and then be on their way home safely," she said.
Attempts to reach the politicians and agencies contacted by Dr. Pilon were not successful last night.
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Their Vets are like our Vets and their Liberal Hippie/Dippie Scum have no respect for anything just like here.
Electrify it..they won't be peeing on it then !!
Sickening, isn't it?
Military used to be high culture, studied, taught in renowned schools by the best of the best. Now, scorned in the best faculties, it's an embarresment. I'm a vet myself, a draftee considered pretty hopeless for soldering. I am not proud of my service record, I was a total shammer, but still, I'm just disgusted by disrespect heaped on the services and servicemen. I don't wear being a vet on my sleeve, so it's incredible what you hear.
I say kick their butts. Voila!
I think people who are caught doing such a thing should be helped to "fall down."
Nothing like a few bruises to teach manners.
Volunteer stake-out force who watches from a distance with pellet rifles, 24/7.
Honest First Sergeant! He kept falling down just trying to get up on one step,...he did it 15 times before we decided we better help him before he really hurt himself.
A gal I knew that worked as a bartender had some jerk push and insult her. By the time the cops got there, everyone swore that he "fell down when he tried to get away." Interestingly enough, there wasn't even a bouncer involved.
It's gun-control Canada.
What's even worse about such people is they don't even stop to consider how what they consider a "right" was given to them.
Such people seem to think their "rights" are a natural outgrowth of their humanity. They never stop to think that if being homo sapiens is all they need in order to have this right conferred on them, then they should feel perfectly safe committing the same type of act in Iran.
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