Military mom and Hon. Lt.-Col to host Garden Party to honour Second World War, Korean and Afghanistan Veterans 

Hon. Lt-Colonel Nancy M. Siew and her husband Ivor Ladd are inviting Second World War, Korean and Afghanistan veterans to a garden party this Saturday, September 14th, in order to honour those who have sacrificed life and limb for Canada.

Having lost their son in 1995, Siew’s role as a military mother continues as she often holds events to honour Canadian veterans. “They don’t care about honour and all that, but it is our way of thanking them,” she added.

Their late son, Cletus Cheng, joined the army reserves in 1981 and served proudly until 1983 when he moved to join the regular force. Unfortunately, Cheng went into cardiac arrest in while competing in the Defender’s challenge as a result of overexertion.

Siew explained, “I met his friends at the funeral, and these friends became my friends for the rest of my life, and I became a military family. The military family was such a big help for me and my grieving process.”

Robert Farquharson, a Second World War veteran who served in Burma, will be in attendance with his wife. John and Suzie Stohn, who both served during the War will also be present. Ms Janet Watt, who was a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and often performs in public, will be singing her wartime favourites.

The party will also include the launch of Fighting for Freedom and Peace by Feng Lin and translated by Siew. The book is about Koran veterans wartime contribution and is full of recollections of their sacrifice.

Guests are asked to wear garden party attire: jacket and tie for men and dress or suit for ladies. Hats are optional, but encouraged, noted the invitation, to show respect to veterans. For military personnel DEU1a (not headgear). 

There will also be several artistic tributes available to view.

Dave Sopha, a civilian artist with an extensive career supporting military murals across the nation, will be displaying The Portraits of Honour. Sopha has been airbrushing murals and paintings for the past 38 years. The Portraits of Honour was his excursion into oil painting. The mural stretches 10 feet tall and 50 feet wide, featuring the faces of 157 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew that lost their lives in Afghanistan.

The portable Highway of Heroes Memorial Globe of Remembrance that honours Canadian veterans will also be transported to the event by Ms Kerri Tadeu.

Several notable figures will also be attending on Saturday in order to meet the veterans including Member of Provincial Parliament Bill Pang, Vaughan Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan and the Mayor of Markham.

The Garden Party will be taking place in Vaughan, Ontario. For more information about the event please contact Nancy Siew at 1-289-553-3551.