Welcome to the PeacEzine! - Issue 1 - July 2008

Charlie Lake Memorial

by Pali Vasvari (Hungary)

On May 21, 2008, we went to Charlie Lake for a ceremony. It was a very windy and cold day. Many volunteers were helping with the ceremony. They gave us little Canadian flags. Afterwards we looked for a place near the monument. A little group of international students was there.



The ceremony was connected to the construction of Alaska Highway. At first, it was named The Alcan Highway. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt dreamed a plan to build an inland route from Canada to Alaska. The construction began in March 1942. 11,000 American soldiers and thousands of Canadians worked on the building. Many soldiers were stationed in the Fort St. John area in the beginning. In the morning on May 14, 1942, a pontoon boat left the south end coast of Charlie Lake. There were seventeen men and supplies. There was rough water and stronger headwinds with waves soon reaching two to three feet. The boat was about two thirds of the way and in the middle of the lake. A plug had come out the gas line of one of the motors and gasoline was draining out. The men discovered the flooding. That was the point when Major Turvey ordered a turn to the west shore. After the boat started to turn, two waves hit it and flooded the right pontoon. Too much water went to the pontoon and tipped the raft at a precarious angle. In less than two minutes the boat settled and went under.

A homesteader and trapper, Gustaf Albin Hedin was the eyewitness of the tragedy. Without delay he started to rescue the survivors. He did not care about himself. He rescued five persons but he could not help the other twelve.










The ceremony started on time. First, two Canadian military cadets brought the Canadian flag and the United States of America flag. Behind them, Scottish bagpipers came. That was the first time I heard Scottish bagpipes in real life. RCMP, firefighters, and Canadian military were there. The mayor of Fort St. John opened the ceremony with moving words. After him, the U.S. Ambassador and the native leader spoke. Next the priest prayed for their loss. It was an emotional moment. After, the family members put flowers near the monument. I could feel sympathy in the air.

After the ceremony we went to the Charlie Lake Community Church. Then the ceremony continued with a lunch and some other kind words, but it was friendlier and closer. We did not have enough time, so we could not eat. They told us they would open a guest book and those present could write in it comments and their names. We signed our names and put some comments in it. It was an honour for me.

Below, left to right, Chiharu, Pali, and MinGu at the reception.