57 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BURIAN, Gregory Guest “Greg” Greg was born in Michigan City, Indiana, USA on August 10, 1948, to Tom and Ruth Burian. He had a promising career in sports (baseball, football) when he graduated from high school on June 6, 1966. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in Indianapolis, Indiana in May 1967. It was during boot camp that he was recruited and accepted into intelligence training and sent to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. Subsequently, he was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon, Vietnam serving two tours from 1968 to 1969 and 1972 to 1973 in the MACV Intelligence Unit. During his tours, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in Intelligence Operations rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Greg was honourably discharged in June 1973. Sometime after leaving the military, he met his future wife Bonnie Merritt, a Canadian. He moved to Windsor, and they were married in 1988 where they travelled and enjoyed the freedoms he had fought so hard to preserve. Greg passed away on February 20, 2013, still very proud to be an American. BURROWS, Robert Frank Robert was born in Brampton, Ontario on June 17, 1925. Bob, as he was known, enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) in November 1943. Received basic training at Camp Borden in Ontario. Sent overseas in early 1944, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Service Corps and trained as a cook. With personnel being processed through the UK, Bob remained in England during the war and after. He returned to Canada in 1946 with the rank of Corporal. Returning to civilian life Bob worked as a plate maker for the Toronto Star newspaper. Following his retirement, he joined Branch 442 of The Royal Canadian Legion in Erin, Ontario and was a member for fourteen years. Bob was generally modest but had empathy for others that had suffered, especially the military personnel he observed as they passed through the chow lines during the war. At the Legion, Bob held the position of Service Officer and with compassion attended to the needs of the ex-servicemen and women. Robert passed away October 24, 2005, at age eighty. BURNS, Garry Douglas Garry was born in Oshawa, Ontario on January 31, 1960. His father, Darrel Sr., was an autoworker and his mother, Elizabeth, the homemaker. Garry Burns enrolled in the CAF Reserve in 1977 was promoted to Major in 1991 and is still serving as of 2023. He was appointed a Member of the Order of St. John, recipient of the Sovereign’s Volunteer Medal; the Canada 125 Medal, the Diamond Jubilee Medal plus the Canadian Forces Decoration with three clasps. Garry was ordained as a Christian Minister in 2016. He served as a chaplain with The Royal Canadian Legion at the Branch, Zone and District levels. He was also chaplain for the St. John Ambulance getting great enjoyment in serving with the volunteers and Therapy Dogs. Reverend Garry enjoyed the freedom that came with being an itinerant clergyman. His full-time occupation from 1999 to date is as Chief of Staff for a research company. He is proud of the team he built over twenty years and the innovative work his teammates carried out. He has been residing in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario since 2009 and has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion for over fifteen years at various branches.
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