By Melanie Jacob
Journal Staff Writer
[email protected]
It's the place dedicated to preserving the memories of loss, sacrifice, and bravery and now the Royal Canadian Legion museum has more in its collection.
As a former member of the Governor General's Horse Guards, Ron Serkies has recently bestowed upon the museum some of his personal items following his retirement on February 25.
"We were here back in 2012 and presented the camp flag, so I figured since I'm going to B.C., I'd stop here and donate some items personally," said Serkies. "Two of the items belonged to the regiment and were titled to pass on to the museum here."
Among those donated, Serkies has included his uniform jacket, boots with spurs, sword belt, and regiment camp flag. He had been collecting items over the past 43 years, although some items he couldn't hold onto or had to return.
"This is stuff you're allowed to keep once you retire," said Serkies. "They don't want it back either because it was next to your skin or you ended up purchasing it anyways."
Serkies had called the week prior asking about donating the items. Rev. Al Hingley had known him from when he had been in Humboldt in 2012 with a group to see Original Humboldt, so it was a pleasant surprise for him.
"I'm developing a display for the Governor General's Horse Guard in the museum right now, so I was happy that he picked us to donate to," said Hingley. "Any artifact helps tell the story and helps us understand better."
According to Hingley, these items help represent the more contemporary horse guards, especially since every military outfit differs slightly in some way. He likes to have many examples to show how they vary and to tell their stories.
"To groups that come to visit, war not only destroys, it also defines," said Hingley. "We know best who we are as Canadians by the stories told. There's the militia and there's war, but there's also the home front and what it meant to live in Canada."
The Governor General's Horse Guard was originally known as the Governor General's Body Guard of Ontario. During the Northwest Rebellion in 1885, part of the squadron's duty was to secure the supply depot and telegraph station in Humboldt, hence the connection.
"The more we learn about the guards who were right here in our locale, the better it is," said Hingley. "Having these particular artifacts from the guards reaffirms our happy association with them and helps us experience more of their story because they don't just ceremonially ride around on horses; they've also been in active duty in conflicts around the story."
In other words, these artifacts and all other items donated to the museum act as a link between the past, present, and the future. The history of the guards is alive in these items and those memories are passed down to youth and anyone who cares to learn.
"Not everyone is crazy about history," said Hingley. "To develop a relationship with those folks, it's all a part of the story and who we are. The more we know, the smarter we are."
For Serkies, Canada's history might be one of the things that influenced his interest in the armed forces at an early age. He began his military career right from high school and was promoted to sworn officer in 1984. He worked various jobs in the military throughout his career, but ended up stationed in Toronto as one of the horse guards until the end of his career.
Now, he'll be spending his time volunteering at another military museum and donating a few items there as well.
"I believe a place should have historical value with some of this stuff," he said. "When we visited here, I liked what Rev. Al had actually done to preserve the history of the military."
Hingley is hoping these artifacts will help people appreciate the military more and realize that their contributions are national, not just provincial.
Serkies, meanwhile, is just hoping nobody forgets what the military has done and continues to do.
"I'm hoping that with these items, they'll recognize the sacrifice people have done to keep Canada safe and free," said Serkies.
