PROBLEMATIC

Description: AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE REMNANT, ALUMINUM, BENT, ALL JAGGED EDGES EXCEPT ONE SMOOTH EDGE, DIRT ENCRUSTED, PERFORATED WITH FOUR HOLES, RUSTED PART OF RIVET REMAINING.

History: ACCORDING TO DONOR GLENN MILLER AT TIME OF DONATION, HE RECEIVED THE WRECKAGE MATERIAL FROM ALAIN BERTHELOT, THE MAYOR OF LARRE (A TOWN FROM THE REGION OF NORMANDY, FRANCE). BERTHELOT HAD COME TO CANADA LOOKING FOR THE FAMILIES OF THREE CANADIAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN HIS HOMETOWN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WAS FROM LETHBRIDGE. HIS NAME WAS WILLIAM LINNING. HAVING BEEN THE ONLY SON OF WILLIAM AND KITTY MAY LINNING, THE SOLDIER DIED ON JULY 16, 1944 AFTER BEING SHOT DOWN WHILE DELIVERING AMMUNITION AND FIRST AID EQUIPMENT TO THE FRENCH UNDERGROUND. BERTHELOT CAME TO LETHBRIDGE AND GAVE A TALK ABOUT HIS SEARCH AT CITY HALL. AFTER THE TALK WAS COMPLETE, BERTHELOT BROUGHT OUT A BOX OF PEBBLES FROM JUNO BEACH AND OFFERED THEM TO THE AUDIENCE. LATER, BERTHELOT OFFERED PIECES OF THE WRECKAGE TO MILLER. HE TOOK TWO, ONE FOR HIMSELF AND ONE FOR THE GALT. HE TOOK THE PIECES BECAUSE "IT IS RARE TO HAVE ACCESS TO WWII HISTORY FROM LETHBRIDGE. IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO HAVE ARTIFACTS THAT HAVE A LOCAL CONNECTION. IT HELPS TO BRING HISTORY ALIVE." MILLER, A SERVICE OFFICER AT THE LETHBRIDGE BRANCH OF "THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION," INTENDS TO USE HIS OWN PIECE OF THE WRECKAGE TO EDUCATE YOUTH ABOUT KEEPING THE MESSAGE OF REMEMBRANCE ALIVE. SEE PERMANENT FILE.