001/100 James D. Stoneburgh CD

To respond to your questions, let me begin by saying that most Veterans that you will interface with will talk a lot about “service”. About their “service” to their Country, or about “serving” in the Armed Forces, aka “The Service”. If a Veteran was to “serve” for the prerequisite twelve years, he would receive the Canadian Decoration (CD), “For Service”. The medals that I proudly wear, ALL of them were for “service”, either a Special “Service” Medal, or those named “In The Service Of Peace” (all Peacekeeping Medals). So, I think that I have (over) killed the word and idea of “service”. But that is the word that I would use to describe my reasoning or motivation to become involved in this Project… service would be the word that I would use in response to your first question. I simply wished to continue to serve my community and her citizens.

What was going through your mind when you were “Sitting in Remembrance” for the project?

There were several trains of thought that passed through my mind during the sitting. First, I thought of all those others, less fortunate than myself, to have served and yet who had not lived long enough to participate in this – those who had given all. Those we only remember on the Eleventh of November each year. I thought of them. I was also intrigued by the gifting of the artist, Greg Denton, as I watched the creative process evolve in front of my very eyes; I watched a blank canvas gain life under his masterful brushstrokes. It was truly amazing! I also thought of just how wonderful a concept this was. I am a student of history, and the foresight demonstrated here was most pleasing for me to witness. Soon, and I mean, very soon, many of these Veterans will no longer be with us, yet this will remain as a legacy to their being here and sojourning amongst us. Foresight indeed.