St Ann's Church in WWII
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During World War Two, much of our country[where?] gave up great men for the sake of our freedom. The five Roman Catholic Churches played special roles in this war.
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[edit] St. Ann's Church
St. Ann's Parish cooperated to the utmost in the all-out war effort of the people of Bristol under the leadership of Rev. J. V. E. Belanger, its pastor. The members of the parish gave freely of time, labor, and money to help the fighting men and alleviate suffering in war-torn countries. This parish of four thousand people takes pride in the following honor roll.
[edit] Honor Roll
It sent four hundred and fifty of its young men and women to the Armed Forces of the United States. Nine of these made the supreme sacrifice in giving their lives for their country. They are John B. Benoit, Theodore Blakeslee, Raymond Cloutier, Eugene Delisle, Alfre Hart, Armand L'Heureux, Willard Toussaint, Paul Vannesse, and ELmer LEvesque. The names of these men who served and died are preserved on a memorial altar in the church. This altar is the work of the Sisters of the Assumption who taught at the parish school, and was made possible through the generosity of Mr. Rene J. Brault, a parishioner.
[edit] War work
Its parishioners responded wholeheartedly to the call of the Government to work in its defense. Mothers and daughters stayed at their jobs seven days a week in the city's factories to help the nation make the necessities of war and, in addition, many volunteered to knit and sew for the Red Cross. Hundreds of garments were made by these self-sacrificing women to clothe the poor and the needy in war devastated lands.
[edit] War Bonds and Stamps
St Ann's Parish also gave a large amount of money to buy war bonds and stamps. From December 1941 to June 1945, the parish bought, in the name of the children of St. Ann's School, bonds to the amount of $150,000. Government agencies acknowledged these contributions during the war years by sending pictures of amphibian trucks, landing crafts, and personnel carriers which this money helped to provide for our fighting men. Also, St. Ann's School received a certificate from the Treasury Department stating that the Children's War Saving Program which they completed had provided two land jeeps, one quack, two flying jeeps, and one hospital bed.
[edit] Salvage
Waste paper collections amounted to $400 and clothing collections were evaluated at $900.
[edit] Memorial Altar
The memoreal altar was dediacated by Father Pepin in May 1945. The names of the four hundred and fifty servicemen and women are arranged alphabetically ub twebty-two parallel columns on the base of the altar. The edges of these columns are trimmed with red, white, and blue ribbon. The names of the nine solders who gave their lives are placed above on the tabernacle door. On the alrar itself are four statues representing an infantry man, a sailor, a marine, and a nurse in prayer at the feet of a statue of Mary, the Mother of Christ. The four statues representing the servicemen are the gift of Mr. Rene J. Brault. The statue of Mary was donated by Miss Simone Hanelin, a member of the CHildren of Mary. Placed on each side of the altar are the Anerican flag and a flag with four hundred and fifty stars. Needless to say, this shrine of devotion brought our mothers and fatheres closer to their sons during the last critical days of the war. Many still come to pray at this altar.
[edit] Masses
As in all Catholic Churches, hundreds of masses were offered both during and after the war. Requiem High Masses were offered for each of the men who gave his life for God and Country.
[edit] References
This article was originally written in the Bristol Historical Society Book of World War Two. It is not, and has never been under copyright protection.[citation needed]
