Accepting The Legion of Honour Medal

The thing that I think has the most meaning for me is that presentation and I thank the French Government for awarding these two people that served there. And I was one of seventy in the regiment that were to be, it was a mid-summer’s meeting, we always had a semi-annual, not semi but it was something we had a regimental sort of a reunion or gathering and this year it was in Kamloops. And I had acquired quite a severe case of some kind of rheumatism that made me pretty well helpless and this happened before this occasion that we were to be in Kamloops and I couldn’t attend that and I had hoped to go. But I couldn’t move around. I was alone at the time and I was staying in a assisted living facility in Summerland as I still am. I didn’t know at the time that they were going to be receiving these medals. I didn’t know that was on the program. And because I wasn’t there, this is the part that really touched me. The last year, three of the retired colonels from the regiment came up to Summerland with their wives and they got permission authorizaton from the French Consulate in Ottawa here to perform the ceremony for me and this they did. I said at the time that three words kept running through my mind after I received this were duty, honour and loyalty.

An honour Mr. Bernhardt will never forget - a personal visit from French government representatives!

Charles Bernhardt

Mr. Charles Bernhardt was born March 13, 1921 in Yugoslavia. His father, a bricklayer, was from Hungary and came to Canada in 1927. The family followed the next year. Unable to recall too much of his childhood, Mr. Bernhardt does remember his happiness as a Canadian and that he always had the desire and pride to serve in the Canadian military. He chose to join the Canadian Armoured Division and served during in the Second World War in Normandy during the Battle of D-Day. He held the occupation of Brigadier General’s driver, a role he felt great pride in doing. Mr. Bernhardt is known for his participation in one of the most famous photos of all time which went for poster print, the “Wait for Me Daddy” poster which can be found displayed across Canada. In recognition of his service, Mr. Bernhardt received the Legion of Honour medal and was given the opportunity to be a part of the Canadian delegation for 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - a memory of honour he will hold for a lifetime. Mr. Bernhardt resides in Summerland, B.C.