10 November 2006
CPR Continues Tradition of Honouring All Those Who Have Served
CPR built 1,420 Valentine tanks in its Locomotive Shops in
Montreal during World War II.
On November 11, Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada's first
transcontinental railway, will honour those who served Canada and the United States. At a special ceremony at its Corporate
Headquarters in Calgary, CPR will again hold a Remembrance Day and Veterans Day tribute to the freedom fighters of World War I and
World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and to those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At 11 a.m. local time, all trains across the CPR system will be brought to a halt, observing two minutes of silence in honour of those
who have served their country in war. Following the silence, every CPR train across Canada and the United States will sound one long
whistle blast - a CPR salute to both nations' war veterans.
"No sculpture can fully pay tribute to their memory. No engraved stone can completely bear record of their deeds. No painting
can capture the essence of their pain and suffering. But by coming together to commemorate the efforts of every man and woman who
served in the wars, their memory will be as lasting as the land they honoured with their sacrifices," said CPR Executive Vice
President, Neal Foot.
Canadian Pacific Railway has been touched by the tragic impacts of World War I and World War II. Over 33 thousand CPR employees served
in the last century's two world wars. Sadly, 1,774 died in battle. In addition to the human effort by CPR employees, great
transportation contributions were also made. Of the 74 ships that were requisitioned by the British Government, 27 were lost. In the
air, CPR pioneered the transatlantic delivery of bombers to Britain. At home, CPR railway shops in Calgary and Montreal were converted
into munitions factories to build naval guns and Valentine tanks.
Today, CPR continues to have Canadian and U.S. employees listed as reservists to aid in missions abroad. These brave men and women
will also be recognized at CPR's Remembrance and Veteran's Day event.
Read the history of Canadian Pacific Railway and War (6 MB pdf) 
View the advertisement that is running in the November 11th edition
of the National Post, Vancouver Sun, Winnipeg Free Press, and Calgary Herald.
|
