Local veterans receive Quilts of Valour
Four veterans who live locally received a hug from a grateful nation last Thursday afternoon when they received a Quilt of Valour.
Canadian Armed Forces veterans E. James (Jim) Franklin, Corneliu Chisu, Jacqueline Laszlo and Ryan Lavrench each received a handmade quilt from Quilts of Valour Ontario representatives Mike and Naomi Babineau, and Linda Wigmore, who made the presentation at the Uxbridge Legion.
“All four of the quilts were stunning, and beautifully presented with heartfelt compassion, sincerity, and thanks,” said Tish MacDonald, who was at the presentation ceremony. “As the quilts were draped around the shoulders of the veterans, we reflected on the inscription, ‘Handmade with love, respect, and gratitude for your sacrifice to Canada. May the hugs stitched into this quilt give you comfort, strength and love.’ ”
Four Canadian Armed Forces veterans received ‘Quilts of Valour’ last Thursday, in honour of their service. From left: Quilts of Valour Ontario representative Linda Wigmore, Jim Franklin, Ryan Lavrench, Jacqueline Laszlo, Corneliu Chisu, Quilts of Valour Ontario representatives Mike and Naomi Babineau. Photo by John Cavers
The mission of Quilts of Valour, formed in 2006 and a registered national charity, is to ensure that all Canadian military members, past and present, who are ill or injured because of their service are recognized and honoured with a Quilt of Valour. To date, over 21,000 quilts have been presented to veterans across the country.
Jim Franklin enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Calgary, AB in 1957. After completing basic training in St. Jean, Quebec, electronics training at CFB Clinton, and armament systems training at CFB Borden, he was posted to 427 Squadron as an aero/radar/computer tech. Jim worked on the 8250 UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) system, an integrated circuit commonly used in personal computers. Other postings included Resolute Bay, NT, and Zweibruchen, Germany, as well as Collingwood, ON, with 417 Squadron where he served in the Reserves.
Corneliu Chisu began his military career in 1972 working as an air defence radar operations officer in Romania. He joined the Canadian Forces as a reservist in 1990, transferring to the regular force in September 2003. He served 15 months on overseas deployments, including to Bosnia in 2004 and to Afghanistan in 2007, as well as having three career postings in the GTA, Petawawa and Meaford, ON. He retired from the regular force in 2009 and continued to serve in the Cadet Corps until his retirement in 2014.
Jacqueline Laszlo joined the Ontario Regiment in 2000. She completed basic training in Meaford, ON, and then completed further training as an armoured driver/reconnaissance soldier. She transferred to Le Regiment de Hull, with whom she deployed to Afghanistan in 2007-2008, taking part in convoy escorts. Jacqueline is now an elementary teacher at Quaker Village Public School.
Ryan Lavrench is a former Uxbridge Secondary School and Vimy 2010 student. He enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces and completed basic training in 2015. He deployed to Haiti in 2017 for disaster relief, and in 2019 to Baghdad, Iraq, on a NATO Mission, Operation IMPACT, where he was a close protection operator, acting as a bodyguard for the NATO commander and other NATO VIP’s. Ryan retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2022 as a master bombardier at the 2nd Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at CFB Petawawa. Ryan is nowa Durham Region Police officer.