It has only been a few years since the Carleton County Military Museum opened it’s doors.
In that short time, museum owner and operator Aaron Bouma has gathered quite a collection. Some pieces were donated and others he built himself.
“It’s been my passion for many, many years,” says Bouma. “I’m also an on the autism spectrum. So being an autism advocate it’s important to nurture your special interests, and this is a lot of mine.”
A lot of Bouma’s priceless artifacts were donated by members in and around the community. Those include the museum’s latest addition, a First World War military uniform that was worn by soldier Burns Way, who fought for Canada in the latter half of the war as a member of the New Brunswick 26th Battalion.
The battalion fought in a number of key battles, including the Somme and Vimy Ridge, says Bouma.
Burns’ son, Roger Way, kept the uniform for more than 50 years. Now at age 83, Way wants it to go to a place where it will be well kept after he is gone.
“There wouldn’t be anybody that could look after it and have the public viewing that Aaron can do here in his museum,” says Way. “It’ll get a lot more coverage by being here, than it would being in somebody’s closet a generation or two down the road.”
Burns Way was only a teenager when he signed up to serve his country. He spent the bulk of his time overseas as a sniper.
Way says his father was stabbed with a bayonet during hand-to-hand combat in the trenches but he didn’t come back with PTSD like many soldiers even if the battles took their toll. He says his father spoke little about his time at war.
“I would have to say maybe he felt like he lived a lifetime, actually, in the rigours and the horrors of the war,” says Roger.
Way is proud to be the son of a Canadian veteran and says many of us don’t realize how much Canada’s troops, past and present, sacrifice while in uniform.
Bouma says donations, especially ones still in mint condition like Burns’ uniform, are invaluable to small museums to preserve history. He gives a lot of credit to the community for entrusting their family heirlooms to his care.
“This is a community project and without the community it wouldn’t be as great as it is,” says Bouma. “Our history is important, and if we don’t showcase it, if we don’t preserve it, we could lose it.”
Bouma says he is planning an expansion because the museum is running out of room thanks to the community’s generosity. He says anyone who wants to make a donation can contact him through the museum’s social media page.
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