Lakes named after fallen soldiers

[old medic]

Lakes named after fallen soldiers

By PAUL TURENNE, Winnipeg Sun
04 November 2010
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2010/11/04/15965981.html

Five previously unnamed lakes in northeastern Manitoba now bear the names of some of the province's fallen sons.

Pte. Lane Watkins, Cpl. James Arnal, Cpl. Michael Seggie, Sapper Sean Greenfield and Trooper Corey Hayes were honoured by the Manitoba government during a ceremony at the legislature Thursday where it was announced small lakes northwest of Utik Lake, located about 50 kilometres north of Oxford House, will forever bear the names of the fallen soldiers.

"To me, it's an honour that the province has done this," said Master Warrant Officer Jim Seggie, Michael Seggie's father. "You go through all sorts of emotions: happiness because something is being done to honour your son, sadness because your son isn't here with you, and pretty much everything in between."

The families of Watkins, Arnal, Seggie and Greenfield attended the ceremony and were presented with plaques by Premier Greg Selinger.

Hayes will be honoured at a separate ceremony at a later date as his family was unable to attend Thursday.

Naming the lakes in honour of fallen soldiers is a long-standing tradition in Manitoba. The province has more than 4,000 lakes, rivers, bays and peninsulas named after World War II and Korean War casualties, as well as one soldier who died during a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Manitoba was the first province to name features after casualties of the Afghanistan war.

The province has also named lakes in recent years after Prince Edward's children and hockey star Jonathan Toews, which drew criticism from at least one military family yesterday.

Raymond Arnal, James Arnal's father, read a statement to media thanking the government for honouring his son, but at the same time criticizing the province for also naming a lake after Toews earlier this year.

"Knowing that a supreme sacrifice has now been recognized by the Manitoba government gives me a great sense of pride and joy," Arnal said, reading from a prepared statement. "I'd like to voice my disappointment that the Manitoba government also chose to bestow this honour on a hockey player ... I believe it detracts and takes away from the significance of naming a geographic feature after war dead."

Premier Greg Selinger, through his spokesman, declined to comment.

 

[OldSolduer]

This didn't take long. I spoke to the media shortly after the ceremony about 2 and a half hours ago.

Strike would hve been proud of me!!

 

[Strike]

This didn't take long. I spoke to the media shortly after the ceremony about 2 and a half hours ago.

Strike would hve been proud of me!!

If you see any links to the broadcasts send it my way!  We're in the middle of practicing news briefs and I think this would be a great topic for whoever has the conch tomorrow morning.

 

[OldSolduer]

If you see any links to the broadcasts send it my way!  We're in the middle of practicing news briefs and I think this would be a great topic for whoever has the conch tomorrow morning.

I'll see what happens WRT to the TV stations. CBC and global were there.  BTW Nicole Dube is cute.

I generally don't watch the interviews I give though.

 

[old medic]

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Manitoba lakes named after fallen soldiers
By: Staff Writer
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Manitobaw-lakes-named-after-fallen-soldiers--106702308.html

Manitoba honoured four of its fallen soldiers in Afghanistan by naming northern lakes in their honour at a ceremony at the Legislative Building this morning.

Families of Pte. Lane Watkins, Cpl. James Arnal, Cpl. Michael Seggie and Sapper Sean Greenfield received framed certificates bearing the names of the soldiers.

All of the lakes, including one named for Trooper Corey Hayes, are in a cluster about 100 to 120 kilometres southeast of Thompson. Hayes' family, who now lives in New Brunswick, was unable to attend the ceremony. They will receive their certificate at a later date.

After the ceremony, attended by Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee, Premier Greg Selinger, and Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen, among other dignitaries, the families were ushered to a private reception in the cabinet room.

Two of the soldiers' dads later spoke to the media.

Raymond Arnal said he was appreciative that the government was honouring the memory of his son James and other soldiers who sacrificed their lives, calling it a "great source of pride and joy."

But in a prepared statement, he also expressed his disappointment that the Manitoba government also chose to bestow the same honour on Chicago Blackhawks superstar Jonathan Toews this past summer.

"Although he may be a super sports star, he is not, in my humble opinion, a hero. At least not in the same category as the heroes we are honouring here today," Arnal said.

Jim Seggie said while the honour came just a little over two years since his son Michael was killed, "it was well worth the wait."

Asked if he was upset that a lake had been named after Toews, he said he was not.

"We're very appreciative at what the province has done and we thank them very much for it. That's behind us now and it's in the past."

Seggie said he and family members hope to fly to the lake named after his son. Seggie Lake and all the other lakes officially named today are not accessible by road.

"It will take some logistical planning but I think we can make it happen," Seggie said.

 

[old medic]

Manitoba names lakes after four fallen soldiers
Updated: Thu Nov. 04 2010 13:28:01
ctvwinnipeg.ca
http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101104/wpg_lakes_101104/20101104/?hub=WinnipegHome

Premier Greg Selinger announced Thursday morning that four northern Manitoba lakes will be named after Manitoba soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

The honoured soliders are:

    * Pte. Lane Watkins, 20, who was killed in 2007.
    * Cpl. James Arnal, 25, who was killed in 2008.
    * Cpl. Michael Seggie, 21 who also killed in 2008.
    * Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25, who was killed in 2009.

"These four individuals made the ultimate sacrifice for their province and their country," said Selinger.

The lakes named after the soldiers are located about 120 km southeast of Thompson.

In the summer, the practice of naming Manitoba lakes came under fire when the government named a lake after recent Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews.

The father of Cpl. James Arnal, Raymond Arnal, thanked the government for honouring the memory of his son.

"Knowing that his supreme sacrifice has now been recognized and acknowledged by the Manitoba government gives me a great source of pride and joy," he said.

He also addressed the controversy over naming a lake after Jonathan Toews.

"Although he may be a super sport star, he is not, in my humble opinion, a hero -- at least not in the same category as the heroes we are honouring here today. And as such, should not have been given the same recognition," said Raymond Arnal.

 

[OldSolduer]

Did you like the way I danced around the question about being upset.....I'm not upset. That's in the past.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I generally don't watch the interviews I give though.

You have a lot of faith in MSM quoting you, friend 

Seriously, though, congrats!

 

[old medic]

1:36 minute video on the CTV Winnipeg site three posts above.

 

[OldSolduer]

You have a lot of faith in MSM quoting you, friend 

Seriously, though, congrats!

Thank you very much folks! It's an honour I know Mike appreciates.

 

[Turner]

I can't wait to see the lake. We have to fly there and camp overnight in a hooch! We have to get pissed drunk and party all night long like Mikey would have done at his own lake! Then we shall catch a fish and name him Carl!

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE, YOU GOT A FREAKIN LAKE NAMED AFTER YOU!!!!

 

[Bass ackwards]

Seggie said he and family members hope to fly to the lake named after his son. Seggie Lake and all the other lakes officially named today are not accessible by road.

"It will take some logistical planning but I think we can make it happen," Seggie said.

Jim, I live in Thompson.
If I can help out in any way at all, please let me know.
It'd be an honour and a pleasure.

 

[mariomike]

That is good news.
Perhaps Rob Ford will follow through now that he is Mayor:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/02/27/name-new-streets-after-war-dead-councillor-urges.aspx

 

[The Bread Guy]

.... here:

Four northern Manitoba lakes will be named in honour of soldiers who were killed in the Afghanistan conflict, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“These four individuals made the ultimate sacrifice for their province and their country,” said Selinger. “It is my honour to be able to present the certificates bearing the names of our fallen soldiers to their loved ones.”

The four soldiers being honoured today are:
·        Pte. Lane Watkins, 20, who served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), based in Edmonton, killed July 4, 2007;
·        Cpl. James Arnal, 25, who served with the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI, based in Shilo, killed July 18, 2008;
·        Cpl. Michael Seggie, 21, who also served with the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI, based in Shilo, killed Sept, 3, 2008; and
·        Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25, who was a member of the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, based in Petawawa, Ontario, killed Jan. 31, 2009.

The four lakes are located 100 to 120 kilometres southeast of Thompson.

Also on display at today’s ceremony was a Canadian flag that flew over the Khandahar air base where Canadian troops are stationed in Afghanistan.  The flag will remain on display in the Legislative Building until the end of day Nov. 11.

As for the fifth lake, this from QMI article linked above:

.... The families of Watkins, Arnal, Seggie and Greenfield attended the ceremony and were presented with plaques by Premier Greg Selinger.  Hayes will be honoured at a separate ceremony at a later date as his family was unable to attend Thursday ...

 

[Cdnleaf]

That's really great Jim / all the best to you and your family.  Did you get a GPS coord and can you see it with google earth?  Dan.

 

[GAP]

Seggie said he and family members hope to fly to the lake named after his son. Seggie Lake and all the other lakes officially named today are not accessible by road.

"It will take some logistical planning but I think we can make it happen," Seggie said.

Jim, I live in Thompson.
If I can help out in any way at all, please let me know.
It'd be an honour and a pleasure.

It would be interesting to find out who flies floatplanes out of something local and what the probable costs would be.....

 

[medicineman]

Glad to hear this finally got settled there Jim and hope you get to see the place...my wife will probably be happy to hear about Greenfield - she did Basic with him.

MM

 

[OldSolduer]

Seggie Lake is between Shankland Lake to the west, and Frederick Hall Lake to the north east. Shankland won the VC during WWI, as did Frederick Hall. Mr.Shankland's medals are on display here in Winnipeg. He was in the 43rd Bn CEF. Mr. Hall was in the 8th Bn CEF. What an honor, to be between two Victoria Cross recipients!! RIP Mike!


Lat - 55 degrees, 18'28"
Long - 96 degrees 22'29"


http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2010/11/04/15974466.html

 

[klambie]

Woodland Aerial Photography might be of interest, he has photographed a lot of the Sask geomemorials and some in Manitoba I believe.  Has also done some plaques and the like.  Not sure if he works that far east, but may have some contacts.

http://www.woodlandaerialphoto.com/

 

[OldSolduer]

Good news! A local air transport company has offered to fly us to the nearest airport at their cost. WOw!!