BC Branch - Reunion reminder that it will be held the first week in October same as last year. Details will be in the September newsletter.

Last Post: Bill Rodgers, Percy Thompson, Merle Broadfoot, Major A. Komorsky - HKVDC, John Lavoie, Ken Court, Bill Herring, R. Grieve, Len Cotton, Walter Billson, Don Southworth. "May they Rest in Peace" Sick Bay - Ted Schultz, Ken Hogarth, Bill Laidlaw, Bud Orr, Ernie Buck, Bill Doull, Tony Grimston, Frank Brown, Tommy Barton and Larry Stebbe - Take care - all the best.

Thank yous to Roger Cyr, who resigned due to ill health, for his many years of service; best wishes to Harry Atkinson, National President and congratulations to Derrill Henderson for a terrific job, locating our HK vets and the widows who were entitled to the Forced Slave Labour pay.

From Quebec-Maritimes Branch:

Vignettes of Life in Sham Shui Po

Do you remember in the early days of Sham Shui Po, someone had the brilliant idea that yeast may help to supplement the protein-free diet of rice and bak choy. Yeast is self-generating, so as long as flour and water was added to the existing batch, more yeast would be produced. Every day we lined up and received a dollop of yeast, foul tasting stuff, but at the time we were grasping at straws to find anything that would fend off beri-beri and pellagra.

Over the pot, someone had placed a sign admonishing us not to waste the stuff. It read "Yeast is yeast and waste is waste, and never the twain shall meet", paraphrasing a line of Kipling's poem, "The Ballad of East and West".

A reminder of the Maritimes-Gaspesian Reunion to be held August 27 - 29 - contact Neil Darrah, Florenceville, NB, E0J 1K0 to make arrangements.

Commemorative

The plaque sites in Hong Kong have been realized and we thank you for your assistance. They will be disclosed shortly. More in the next newsletter.
Membership renewals ($10.00) are now due and can be sent to Barry Mitchell, 22 Tunis Bay, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2X1 . Widows of Hong Kong Vets are exempt.
Crests ($18.00) for blazers are available. This is the new Association's crest - it is professionally made, similar to the military crests and has a 5 - 7 week delivery on it.
Monument HK markers ($48.00 ) are available. These are mounted on the grave stone - the marker is metal and coated in a heavy-duty red enamel with white HK emblazoned on it. The package has a registration inside that should be sent to Ottawa to be archived.
The crests and markers can be purchased from Lora Wachtendorf (1-204-338-6536).

Humour

A man in BC was offered by the telephone company, a direct line to God for $100,000. He thought it fair enough, but thought he should check with the other telephone companies. He traveled to Alberta, where he found the service was also provided, but the price was the same, $100,000. After checking with all the provinces with the same result, he arrived in Newfoundland. He called the telephone company and was told that it would cost him ten cents. "Ten cents?" he said. "Why so cheap? All the other provinces charge $100,000 for a direct line to God." The reply, "My son, you are in Newfoundland. It's a local call." * * * * * *

A man bought a new Mercedes and was out on the interstate for a nice evening drive. The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what was left of his hair and he decided to open her up. As the needle jumped up to 80 mph, he suddenly saw a flashing red and blue light behind him. "There's no way they can catch a Mercedes," he thought to himself and opened her up further. His needle hit 90, 100, 110. Then the reality of the situation hit him and he pulled over. The cop came up to him, took his license without a word, and examined it and the car. Finally he came to the window looking steadily at the driver and said, "I've had a tough shift and this is my last pullover. I don't feel like more paperwork so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven't heard before, you can go!" The driver blinked only once while his brain scrambled for a reply. "Last week my wife ran off with a cop," he said, "and I was afraid you were trying to give her back!" "Off you go," said the officer. * * * * * *

I have learned - that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I have learned - that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. * * * * * *

A new business was opening and one of the owner's friends wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card; it said "Rest in Peace". The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist said. "Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, "Congratulations on your new location". * * * * * *

A police officer stops a blonde for speeding and asks her very nicely if he could see her license. She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys could get your act together. Just yesterday you take away my license a nd then today you expect me to show it to you." * * * * * *

Saddam Hussein and Bill Clinton meet up in Baghdad for the first round of talks in a new peace process. When Bill sits down, he notices 3 buttons on the side of Saddam's chair. They begin talking. After about 5 minutes Saddam presses the first button. A boxing glove springs out of a box on the desk and punches Clinton in the face. Confused, Clinton carries on talking as Saddam laughs. A few minutes later the second button is pressed. This time a big boot comes out and kicks Clinton in the shin. Again Saddam laughs, and again Clinton carries on talking, not wanting to put off the bigger issue of peace between the 2 countries. But when the third button is pressed and another boot comes out and kicks Clinton in the privates, he's finally had enough, knowing that he can't do much without them functioning well. "I'm going back home!" he tells the Iraqi. "We'll finish these talks in two weeks!" A fortnight passes and Saddam flies to the United States for talks. As the 2 men sit down, Hussein notices 3 buttons on Clinton's chair and prepares himself for the Yank's revenge. They begin talking and Bill presses the first button. Saddam ducks, but nothing happens. Clinton snickers. A few seconds later he presses the second button. Saddam jumps up, but again nothing happens. Clinton roars with laughter. When the third button is pressed, Saddam jumps up again, and again nothing happens. Clinton falls on the floor in a fit of hysterics. "Forget this," says Saddam. "I'm going back to Baghdad!" Clinton then says through tears of laughter, "What Baghdad?"

Reminders

Monthly lunches at Grapes Restaurant on the corner of Route 90 (South) and Ellice, where Leon's Furniture store is located., 2nd Thursday, August 12, September 9, 1999 and December 16 will be the Semi- annual Meeting to be held at John Osborn, A.N & A.F. Hope to see you there.

**The semi annual meetings to be held the 3rd Thursday of the months of June 17 and December 16, 1999 at 1:30 p.m. at John Osborn A.F. & A.N., Ellice and Empress. **

August 14 at 1 p.m. Commemorative Service at All Saints Church,Broadway and Osborne - family and friends are welcome.

October 23 Reunion dinner at Holiday Inn Airport West. More information to follow.

National Biannual Convention, to be held in Grandby, PQ on August 12 - 15, 1999.

Hong Kong Reunion, 2000

Your Executive

YOUR BRANCH COUNCIL PHONE NUMBERS - KEEP THEM HANDY:

George Peterson, President 256-7174
Borge Agerbak, 1st Vice 897-3213
Roy Robinson, Sick Visiting 256-3756
Carol Hadley, Secrtry/Newsletter 837-6754
Barry Mitchell, Treasurer/Membership 269-1497
Juliet Lafortune, Social 338-3354
John Simcoe, Grey Cup 661-2027
Gerald McArthur, Liaison Officer 338-1356
Bert Delbridge, 2nd Vice 889-5989
Terence Jackson, Memorials 452-1460
Harold Atkinson, Nat'l President 1-613-392-8074