It’s common at this time of year for businesses and organizations to post signs in remembrance of those who have served on Canada’s behalf during wartime.
But one Charlottetown company has taken this annual Remembrance Day tribute up a notch with an exhibit that is a window on the heart and soul of sacrifice that veterans have made.
And this year, the 23-foot window display at Kwik Kopy Design and Print Centre pays special tribute to the contribution of women to war efforts, starting with the First World War through to the Korean War.
“They don’t seem to be recognized that much or I don’t think they are. They were an important part (of the war effort) but everywhere you go, every display you see you don’t see much about (their contribution),” says Wayne Hambly of Charlottetown.
“(For example) we had about 1,400 women who went overseas (during the Second World War); 700 went to England and the other 700 or so went to Africa.”
This Remembrance Day window display and all the others at Kwik Kopy have been pulled from Hambly’s private collection. As owner/driver of United Courier, he was in and out of the design and printing company’s office on a regular basis.
There aren’t many opportunities for this longtime collector to share some of his historic war pieces with the public. Then one day a thought came to him. The Charlottetown company’s big spread of windows on Euston Street would be perfect for a display area. So he approached owners with the idea.
“We always were interested in putting some sort of display there so he took the initiative and took some of his collection and created that for us,” says Kwik Kopy co-owner Shawn MacKenzie.
Hambly started collecting military memorabilia in the 1970s. Although the bulk of it dates to the Second World War, he also has items from the First World War, the Korean War and even the Vietnam War, all with a Canadian component.
“My dad was overseas with the army and then I had a great-uncle who was in the navy during the First World War.
“It just went from there,” Hambly says.
Hambly’s first display at Kwik Kopy was in 2002. It included some Red Cross pieces, military uniforms, weaponry and other items from his collection. More informal exhibits followed.
“There was no question at all. Wayne just tells us what he needed and we go ahead,” says MacKenzie, whose company designs and produces the big banner backdrops that Hambly uses to set the stage for his annual Remembrance Day tributes.
This year’s tribute to women during wartime is the first to be devoted to a particular theme.
Although female military memorabilia is hard to come by, Hambly has managed to uncover some military-wear treasures, including women’s Red Cross wear from the First and Second World Wars and even a rare Canadian Red Cross uniform from the Korean war.
“A guy had it in his basement and he didn’t want it,” Hambly says of this stroke of collecting luck that rescued this piece from obscurity.
Also in the window display are male military uniforms from Vietnam, the Korean War and army, navy and air force from the Second World War. There are also loads of medals, pins, armbands and other military collectibles as well.
“We have to do something,” Kwik Kopy co-owner Troy MacKenzie says of remembering those who served.
“People have to remember that this happened and the other generations are getting farther away from it and if this helps younger generations to realize what happened then it’s worth it.”
The window has created a buzz in the community, even with the folks at Veterans Affairs Canada.
Spokeswoman Heather MacDonald says, “The display really is a great example of how individuals, business and communities are taking this year’s theme of ‘how will you remember?’ to heart, and showing how they will remember our Canadian veterans.”