second World War naval veteran, Donald MacMahon, displays a watch similar to the one he will be receiving for the Navy’s 100 years commemorative watch for his service this Christmas. Tuesday December 20, 2011. DARREN MAKOWICHUK/CALGARY SUN
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As time continues to run out for aging Canadian naval veterans, some in Calgary are receiving a Christmas gift of it.
Calgary-area Canadian Tire stores have purchased 62 Canadian Navy centennial wrist watches for one-time marine warriors, many of them residing at Calgary’s Colonel Belcher facility.
Calgarian Donald MacMahon, who gained fame at the end of the second World War for boarding and capturing a German submarine U-889 off Nova Scotia, said the time pieces are quite the catch.
“It’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve heard of in a long time,” said MacMahon, 84, who once served as a military padre.
“these guys will be absolutely delighted — it’s no small thing.”
The vets are to take possession of the watches, produced by Toronto-based Time is Ticking Inc., at a ceremony at the Colonel Belcher Jan. 9.
It’s possible there could be fewer recipients by then, said MacMahon, who’s helping organize the event.
“I just buried one the other day who would have gotten a watch,” he said.
Canadian Tire store owner Rick Arsenault said it was an easy donor decision to make.
“these men and women provided a tremendous service for our country and the world and it’s important we look after them in their twilight years,” he said.
Such 24-karat gold plated watches, said Time is Ticking President Robin Devine, would normally retail for about $200 but are sold by her company in Alberta for around $70.
Retailers like Canadian Tire began donating them to residents of veterans’ hospitals last April, she said.
“there are only five veterans’ hospitals across the country and I’ve tried to make arrangements for all the veterans’ hospitals to receive watches,” she said.
The 1910-2010 centennial watch presentations, she said, are highly emotional and rewarding.
“It’s one of the last big events they can commemorate,” said Devine.
It’ll be the second such watch for MacMahon, who received one from his son last year.
“My first one will go to him,” he said.
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