b'BillsMorse code instruction manual.Bills dental records when he lost his teeth during training.Bill Dickinson (continued from page 51)with a family in Holland. Judy says that her Dad and her This is how the house looked on the day Bill landed on Junohosts all got sick, because they were not used to eating Beach on June 6, 1944. the rich meat. Bill was so hungry in Holland that he even ate tulip bulbs!Bill only told light-hearted tales, but he also had a seri-ous, respectful attitude to his wartime reminiscences. He inspired his daughters interest in history. Judy accompa- The faces of Bill Dickinsonthe Veteran, the man and the crossing guard.nied Bill to Vimy, which she described as majestic. They saw the graves, and it took three panoramic photographsElectric for 35 years. He married Tilly and they hadThe newspaper says in all.to capture one, they were so large. They walked on theJudy, mother to sons Mike and Rick. Plus he had fourAugust 15, 1945.soft ground which never hardened where the ovens were,grandchildren to continue his legacy.saw battlefields and bunkers, and a concentration camp. A proud member of Port Perry Legion like Bill was, Germans also visit these sites, Judy said. They tellJudy took over poppy shifts from her late father, and re-theirchildrenwhathappened,whyithappened,andtold his familiar stories. why it will never happen again, she shared.My DadPeople say its not the same though, she noted. Her and I were the same, said Judy. We both liked to seepoppy box would just be full of loose change. All dona-things and remember things. tions are appreciated, of course, Judy added. The Legion The twosome travelled to Apeldoorn, Holland, so Billstill fulfills its original purpose of helping veterans, plus could march in the 50th Anniversary of D-Day parade. Ait supports many good community causes.12-year-old girl, Ramona, gave him a bouquet of flowers.Judy honoured her father and former mother-in-law, Judy still keeps in touch with her, first through letters,Mary Olaisen, who served in the merchant marines, by Bill knew the exact spot where he came on shore on Juno Beach,now Facebook too. Twice, Judy and Bill visited Ramonamaking sure that they both had Legion veteran banners and here he stands56 years later. in Holland, and once, as a teen, she came to see them inon display. Mary, who was previously featured in a Focus Scugog. on Scugog Remembrance Day issue, was born the day that After the war, Bill returned to his original job at aWWI was declared, and she passed away last year on the leatherfactory,beforemovingontoworkatGeneralanniversary of D-Day. Lest we forget. A wireless radio similar to the one Bill used to take the message By Lynn Campbell, Focus on Scugog that stopped 15,000 men from fighting. A very special day for him.THANK YOU. WE REMEMBER.Judy, sharing photos and memorabilia of her dad Bill this past Judy and her dad in 2003, in front of Canada House, the firstOctober. In August 2006, Judy obtained his Military Service278 Queen Street, Port Perry905-985-2159house liberated on Juno Beach. Record, something unknown to many.52 FO FOFOCUCSUS S NEOPVTEEMMBBEERR2200116953FOCCUUSS NSOEVPETMEMBEBRER 2 0210916'