Orillia Exhibition on the 75th D-Day Anniversary
Orillia Public Library hosts Remembrance Day Exhibition for the public
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On Friday, November 8th, Lakehead University students gathered together to volunteer for the Remembrance Day Exhibit at the Orillia Public Library. The exhibit featured a number of hands-on activities, knowledgeable historians, captivating artifacts from both World Wars, and volunteers in uniforms from the time period. The free event accumulated an audience of over 1200 people, particularly students, between Thursday and Saturday of last week.
Christian Leamon, an English Major who volunteered his time to dress up as a soldier for the exhibit on Friday, told The Argus: “we had a lot of fun. All of the authentic memorabilia gave fantastic insight into the sacrifice that was made for our freedom.”
Jayne Turvey, the event organizer, has been working intensively with several volunteers over the past few years on a book to ensure that no local war hero from the war is forgotten. The book is to contain the name, photograph, and a few words from every soldier that sacrificed their life or time for Orillia. Turvey’s endless dedication to commemorating those that fought nearly one hundred years ago is treasured by the community.
Adam Richards, an Orillia Representative for the Lakehead University History Society, said: “Remembrance Day has always been an important day for me, it provides a link between the past and a world I am blessed to have known. As we move further and further from the end of World War I, remembrance has become much less a part of our lives. Jayne Turvey has ensured that young individuals are able to grasp what this day is all about.” Richards volunteered his voice to the Orillia Opera House presentation of World War II reenactments as well as dressed up on Friday as a soldier. The presentation he assisted in provided students with a perspective on the local contributions to war efforts that are seldom acknowledged on a national level.
Turvey expressed worry about lack of volunteers on Friday, stating that the students have always tended to be most captivated by the actors in costumes since adds to the effect. Despite this, hundreds of students were fully engaged as they filled out their booklet-questionnaires in an informative scavenger hunt for historical facts.
In addition to exhibits commemorating World War I and II, this year brought a spotlight onto an important anniversary. For the 75th anniversary of D-Day, special exhibits were created in order to expose onlookers into the pivotal moment of the Second World War.
“Of course, we all know that we take this time out of the year to remember the sacrifices that were made for us, but seeing the D-Day exhibits so meticulously done really reminds individuals of the bloodshed and heartache that had to go into winning our freedom- it personalizes it,” said Leamon.
Next Remembrance Day, volunteers will be thoroughly appreciated to enhance the exhibit once again. Lakehead University students are heavily encouraged to find time within their busy schedules to come down and assist in remembering fallen soldiers. All volunteering is incredibly helpful in keeping the experience impactful to young minds.
It is through all-hands-on-deck events like these that students can become enriched with knowledge. To all Lakehead students: take the time this Remembrance Day to remember the soldiers that fought, and often died, so that opportunity and freedom could be experienced by all in Canada.
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