Sad Days of Remembrance

Interviewer: Remembrance day, November 11th, what does this day mean to you? It's very sad and I have no interest in participating with groups I like to be alone with my own thoughts. Interviewer: You think about the friendships you made? Yes I often do. I don't wait ‘til the 11th to think about them. Often, often when something happens I think of this friend or the other friend that I had made while in service. Interviewer: Can you share a story about that friend?

Picture of Servicewomen.

I stayed mainly with older girls than I. I don't know why. I suppose because I never had a mother, but these, we were all very good friends. We, I don't remember ever quarrelling with anybody or having a mean word said to me from any of the girls, which is certainly different from my youth. But, but these girls, we're still friends. My, my one very best friend just died a hundred, 3 days after her hundredth birthday.

Ms. Michielin talks about missing friends and remembering them.

Anne Michielin

Ms. Michielin was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 5, 1923. She was orphaned at the age of 5, and was taken in by a Catholic order. At age 18, Ms. Michielin skipped her appointment she had made to enter the sisterhood, and joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps instead. Following her training in Vermillion, Alberta, she was assigned to the records department for the Canadian Women's Army Corps in Curry Barracks. During Christmas leave in 1943, she travelled to Drumheller with her roommate. While there, she would meet her future husband who was on leave from the Queen Charlottes. In 1944, during preparations for transporting overseas, she had a reaction to the vaccinations. She was not allowed overseas, and was medically discharged on July 7. After leaving the service Ms. Michielin became a dental hygienist, was married in 1945, and had a son. Ms. Michielin was also presented with the Queen's Jubilee Medal. One of six Canadian recipients for her service to communities.