REGINA – Decades after he came back from war, Harold Hague is still wondering how peace can be won.
“I don’t think there was a man alive that wouldn’t say he wasn’t scared,” he said. “Honestly, for as far as the human eye could see there were ships, and battle ships, and mine sweepers…and above there were about 4,000 aircraft flying altogether.”
Hague still gets emotional when he recalls the allied invasion of Normandy and the friends and comrades he lost.
“I am grateful to be able to have reached the age I am after going through lots of things.”
This year, Hague was awarded with the highest national order from France: rank of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. The honour coincides with the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
All these years later, Hague is still asking the same question: “If we could only preach for people to sit down and have an argument, I don’t know, how do you do it – how do you prevent wars? I don’t know.”
This year there seems to be a heightened awareness of the importance of our past and present military members. 2014 marks 75 years since the start of the Second World War and 100 years since the start of the First World War. It’s also a year that saw the killings of two Canadian soldiers on home soil. Over 5000 people came to the Brandt Centre for Tuesday’s service – the highest number ever.
“I, like every other Canadian, am very well aware of the sacrifices that have happened … over the last month and very much to me, I’m thankful for the police and the armed forces that protect us everyday,” said Mayor Michael Fougere.
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