My Great Uncle Cyrill (Cy) Yarnell is an interesting man. Brother of my grandfather, uncle to my mom, he has lived a more interesting life than most men of his generation, and considering the fact that he is 87 years old, that is saying a lot. He was a fighter pilot, fighting in the war in Italy, North Africa, and Germany. He retired in 1975, shortly after I was BORN, but I am fairly certain he is still busier than I am. He travels the world as an ambassador for Canada’s air force, and gives stirring speeches about the role of the military. He is an equitable man, and is not mired in the past. Remembrance day to him is not simply remembering his good old days, but thinking about the here and now, the men and women who still are fighting.
He gave a speech today at my father’s church (yes, my father is an Anglican minister, some people are raising their eyebrows at that), and I was thrilled to be present. I am not a fan of the military-industrial complex, I have concerns over the reasons we go to war, but I am still thankful for people like Cy Yarnell.
The audio quality is not the best, I was just recording from my personal camera. Also, the baby you hear crying on occasion is mine. He is very cute.
Cy Yarnell’s Remembrance Day Speech – St. James Humber Bay, 2007
June 18, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I just want to say that I have had the privilege and honour of meeting Cy, and he is a remarkable gentleman. I spent two years working on a painting of him next to a Harvard that I donated to the RCAF Museum.
I am hoping that Cy will be at the Trenton Air Show on July 5th. It would a privilege to introduce him to my wife and friends.
You have much to be proud of in Uncle Cy and Aunt Phyllis.
Dean Roosevelt
October 13, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Hello, I know your uncle very well as I work in Air Force Public Affairs here in Ottawa and we have known each other for the past 12 years. He’s a real gem. I was wondering if there’s any way I could hear tha speech of his as it’s not downloading from your blog – my e-mail is holly.bridges@forces.gc.ca – maybe you could send the audio file to me?
Thanks so much, Holly Bridges