Editorially speaking...
Everywhere I go, everything I do, everything I read....there’s history there!
I read three regional newspapers each week, daily seek out past and present events and personages online, and I’m forever surprised by the nuggets that I continually find in today’s news that link to or recall past happenings.
Then there’s the latest trend to revisionism by well-intended but sometimes misguided New Age accusers. Yes, our history is studded with mistakes and much worse. But whose history isn’t?
This is supposed to be the way we learn to do better—not by trying to expunge the evils of our past and to demonize those who we believe were responsible—but to set the record straight through learning.
With all the tar-brushing of so many of our country’s founders and pioneers, the toppling and defacing of statues, the banning of books and the name changes, one can get almost dizzy trying to keep up. (Some of my clipping files are getting pretty thick!)
But I do try and I hope it shows in the Chronicles with my frequent flashbacks to historic events that sometimes have fascinating parallels with the events of today.
So my vanity assures me, such as this week’s look back at the Japanese fire-bomb balloons of the Second World War which is prompted by the recent spate of alleged Chinese spy balloons.
* * * * *
Belinda Wright’s photo of the poster and flowers we placed for Molly in January. They were still there when she visited last month.
After hearing from T.W. Paterson about his Aunt Ada’s best friend, reading about Molly Justice in various books and listening to Podcasts about her for the last year, I thought that while in Victoria in February I’d pay my respects to Molly and see where she lived, died and is buried.
I enjoy researching my own family history and when I heard about Molly and what happened to her, something moved me. She was so young to be brutally murdered on her way home from work over 80 years ago.
When I arrived at the Saanich Municipal Hall I couldn’t find parking but that didn’t deter me. Eventually I found a spot to park and with some help from T.W. on my cell phone, I found where Molly’s body was believed to have been found, just off the Lochside Regional Trail, near Swan Lake.
It was very moving to know that the picture and flowers that T.W. placed there earlier that month were still there and it was very overwhelming to be where Molly died. I can’t describe the feeling but I hope that Molly knew that I was there to pay my respects.
After taking some pictures, I then proceeded to walk to where Molly was headed that night but never made it…home. It was not a long walk and not as dark or cold as Molly would have walked but I wanted her to know that she isn’t forgotten as I walked towards her home.
After seeing her home and that of Aunt Ada and T.W., I took a walk down Brett Avenue to Saanich Road and back again to the trail. I then walked down to where I thought the trail was that she had come from off the bus, all probably less than a 10-minute walk from her house.
To know that, over 80 years ago, Molly’s life was cut short just infuriates me. Knowing, as I stood on the spot where her body had been found, that the people passing by me most likely wouldn’t, were it not been for the picture and flowers, have a clue that Molly died there on a cold January night, 80 years ago.
After I left the trail I then headed to Molly's last resting place, Royal Oak Burial Park. Although I didn’t find her exact headstone (it was most likely covered by grass), I did find what I thought was the area where she’s buried.
I hope Molly knows that I was there to visit her and let her know that she isn’t forgotten. Rest in Peace Molly, I will remember you.
* * * * *