The sword was donated to the cadet unit by Mary Lou Parker in memory of her husband Albert (Tim) Parker who died a few years ago.
Mary Lou Parker purchased the sword, which cost around $2,000 and came from Germany, for the army cadets.
She presented it on Oct. 29.
“We had been out looking to get a sword for a long while and it just came about that she heard through a mutual friend that the cadet unit was looking for this,” explains 110 Yarmouth Army Cadets commanding officer Gary Hudson. “She was looking to do something in the community and this person put her in touch with us. She went ahead and ordered the sword and said she would look after everything. She wanted to do this in memory of her late husband.”
Tim Parker was a veteran of the Korean War and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 61, where he was both on the executive and served as a service officer. He was also the Grand Chief and co-founder of the Eastern Woodland Metis Nation Association of Nova Scotia. Both he and his wife supported cadets and the militia.
“Tim was a cadet here. This is the only place they had to go when they were young,” says
Mary Loy Parker, who appreciates what the cadets do and how the experience helps to shape the lives of young people.
“I was in militia,” she says. “It was a learning experience and it did shape me into who I am today.”
Hudson says he and the cadets are very moved by Parker’s gesture. In addition to donating the sword, she’s also helped to pay the way for a cadet to travel overseas for the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge. The cadet unit is fundraising to send a group there for the anniversary.
“You don’t see this every day and I certainly want people in the community to know there’s people out there like this lady,” says Hudson. “She and her husband had ties with the militia and with youth and with the cadet movement. We want her to get this recognition for her husband.”
Meanwhile Parker’s acts of kindness are likely to continue when it comes to the cadets.
“If you ever need anything, I’m here for you,” she told them as she presented the sword.
