Re: July 10 letter from Roger Garbutt.
Mr. Garbutt has been busy picking the fly poop out of the pepper in his short, sneaky backstab shot at Canada’s most popular MP. Elizabeth May was asked by the peacekeeping brotherhood if she would like our veterans’ group to escort her on the Canada Day parade. She and her staff were pleased to accept.
Ed Widenmaier (the Cadillac man) fixes up antique Cadillacs. These mobile museum pieces are an integral part of our North American history, as was the UN blue convertable used on Canada Day to transport Ms. May.
In the front seat sat Major Murray Edwards and Warrant Officer Ed Widenmaier. Mayor Edwards is a veteran of the Second World War, the Cold War and three peacekeeping operations. He is 93 years old this year. WO Widenmaier is a Ranger-trained infantryman who served Canada until pension and he is a multi-toured peacekeeping veteran who donated his vehicles for this Happy Birthday Canada occasion. The car behind was driven by Bobby Collins, a peacekeeping and Vietnam veteran who was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
We carried the Mark Isfeld Memorial Chapter flag for the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping. The passenger in the second flag Cadillac was yours truly, Bily Willbond, Canadian Soldier Poet.
Needless to say, our peacekeeping community veterans group members were outraged at the cheap shot taken by Mr. Garbutt at Canada’s best federal politician. She lives a long, long way from the head shed and she loyally represents Saanich and the Gulf Islands.
We are a long way from Ottawa. Check her travel costs and expenses on the web. She spends way less of our taxpayers’ monies than many who live closer to Ottawa.
I rest my case.
William Willbond
Saanichton