Bringing the War Close to Home
The people of Summerside, like their fellow Islanders and Canadians, were not eager for the bloodshed of war. The First World War
was still vivid in the memories of many. But they rallied and threw their support behind the cause. The patriotic people of Summerside
enlisted, volunteered, conserved, supported government and financially invested in the war effort. Perhaps most significant of
all, they opened the doors of their homes to the young airmen from around the Commonwealth training at RCAF Station Summerside.
Their hopes were that somewhere else in the world people were doing the same for their kin.
The elected officials of Summerside along with the business community were determined
to take hold of the economic benefits of war to further the growth of the region while doing their part to ensure victory on the
battlefields. The Union Jack was flown high and the national anthem, "God Save the King" was sung at every public event.
Things To Do!!!
Why is Harold saluting the British Union Jack and why were people singing God Save the King?
Do you sense at this point in history that Canadians are still closely tied to Britain? Would that still be the case in your time frame? Ask your parents what the relationship was at the time they were growing up.
Is there a difference between duty and patriotism?
What are the boundaries of patriotism? How much should you be expected to sacrifice in the name of patriotism? If the young people of today's Canada were faced with World War do you believe they would respond in the same way the youth of 1939 did?
Island Historian, Ed MacDonald in his book, If You're Stronghearted, Prince Edward Island In The Twentieth Century says the most likely people to enlist were the restless, the enterprising, the adventurous, and the idealistic. Would that hold true for today?
