In Loving Memory of Jack Stewart

Dad getting ready to go on parade for Remembrance Day.

In Loving Memory of
John Walter (Jack) Stewart
March 1, 1922 - April 10, 2002

The biggest Veterans Parade in Canada, is held at the Exhibition Stadium every year. I remember when I was younger going to this parade every year and there would be thousands of men that were in the war... sadly as years pass there are now only hundreds as these men have passed away. And now there will be one less
in this years parade, my father.

This is a beautiful and loving gift for Angel Jack from my dear friend, Carol, mom to Angel Michael.

He's Just a Breath Away
Cancer took my dad from us.
But he's only gone for a little while.
He lost a battle so many fight.
But he NEVER could lose his smile.

We stayed with him till the end.
Not the end as we may say.
For he's a Saint in the Heavens' now.
And he's only a breath away.

Oh it's not easy to say good-bye
to someone we love so much.
But those good-byes don't matter,
when you can still feel their touch.

I felt the need to talk to him once more
and look into his deep brown eyes.
But I had to settle for just knowing
he heard my heart's inner cries.

Yes, we gathered in love & honor
and stayed at his bedside.
And we were with him when the Angels
helped him cross over the other side.

Now, you can know that he's not far.
He's just a breath away.
And if you look to the Heavens, my friends,
You'll see him again one day.

Yeah, cancer took my dad from us.
But he's just gone for a little while.
And as he entered the gates of Heaven ...
The other angels saw his smile.

With Love, ~Author~ Kaye Des'Ormeaux
Copyright 2002 Kaye Des'Ormeaux
Dedicated to Sheri Reed, Angel Rose and Dru's mommy.
In Loving Memory of her dad.

These are all of us on New Years a fews years back.
Very happy memories.

This gift for Jack is from my dear friend, Pammi.

The photo above and this letter below was sent to Jack's daughter Sheri from a man who served with Jack in the service...

Hi Sheri: I really enjoyed your dad's website. It is an excellent, comprehensive profile of a WW@ veteran. As you know the OCA site has a photo gallery which I am sure would be more than anxious to use some of your material. I served overseas with the regiment from December of 1939 to April 1945. I am now 82 years old and my memory is not quite what it used to be but I vaguely remember your father. With your skill on the web you would be an excellent person to research the wealth of photos that the regiment has on Wessley St. With the passing more and more of the old timers I think you are doing a wonderful job of keeping your fathers history and memory alive. I am sending you a photo of one of the early post war reunions. Is he in this photo? I have lived in California for the last 40 years so I have a little difficulty recognising photos of the old vets. They all have changed so much.
Keep up the excellent work. Norm Cromie. B73323

My dad loved to travel and as a young girl we did lots. Later on in life my mom and dad traveled even more. This photo he was so proud of because he got to meet Charlie Pride, the country and western singer. But this wasn't all the famous people he met, including, Lorretta Lynn, Willy Nelson, and through the grape vine it was rumored that he dated Carroll Baker.

Dad getting his autograph from Loretta Lynn.

In the photo at the top, dad in his uniform at 16 years old. In the bottom photo, Sgt. John Walter Stewart in his 48th Highlanders Uniform.

His birth and death dates are
March 1st, 1922 - April 10th, 2002.
Full name is John Walter Stewart but always called Jack.

Please Wear A Poppy
�Please wear a poppy,� the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched
as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
�Lady,� said he, �may I have one?�
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
�Why do we wear a poppy today?�
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, �This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol
for the gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free �
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
�I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned
and grew and became a man �
as you will, too.
�He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
�But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
�Till at last, at last, the war was won �
And that's why we wear a poppy, son.�
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, �Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son � did he come back all right?�
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought �
and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy!
Remember � and give!
Written by Don Crawford

The poppy represents the symbol of Remembrance. Mainly it is to honor those who died in war, and to help ex-service personnel and their dependants. Click on the poppy above to learn more about The Poppy Fund.

I have included a letter from Veteran's Affairs. And as you can read they have added my dads web pages to their site.

Sheri:

Under our "Veterans Tributes" and the World War II button, the link to the wonderful tribute to your dad has been added. I thoroughly enjoyed your poetry and it is so refreshing to know that some families out there care about the sacrifices made by our Veterans. May life be good to you and as we always say "As long as someone cares and remembers a Veteran, he/she will live on forever."

Mike "Iceman" Gillhoolley

Click on the banner below to go to the
Canadian POW/MIA Information Center Page ~

And click on the poppy below to visit a very special remembrance page ~

Here are two photos one of me at my dads grave side and then one of all the Canadian flags they place on the plots on Canada day.

The first photo is of Sheri putting the wreath at the monument for Veterans Day Nov. 11th 2003. The second photo is Dad's uniform.

After going for dinner for Mothers Day we went to go for a visit and decorate at the cemetery. Here are a few photo's of the flowers and wind chimes and dragonflies
we put up.

While we were at the cemetery, Ryanne thought she had better say a few words
so here she is giving her speech.

Shall We Dance? Whitby ~ Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 held it's annual Veteran's Appreciation Day March 26 with a dinner/dance. Jack Stewart, who served in Italy and the Netherlands during the Second World War,
danced the night away with his wife Patricia.

To send an email to Jack's daughter, Sheri,
click on the maple leaf below ~

Welcome to Sheri's Angel Pages

Mull of Kintyre Written and performed by Paul McCartney & Wings
Mull of Kintyre, oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre
Far have I travelled and much have I seen
Dark distant mountains with valleys of green
Past painted deserts, the sun sets on fire
As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre, oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre
Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen
Carry me back to the days I knew then
Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir
Of the life and the times of the Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre, oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre
Smiles in the sunshine and tears in the rain
Still take me back where my mem'ries remain
Flickering embers grow higher and high'r
As they carry me back to the Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre, oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre...