WATCH ABOVE: Since the birth of our country, Canadian soldiers have stepped forward without hesitation when duty called. And today, we remember. As Doug Vassen reports, one of the best attended ceremonies is traditionally at the Military Museums.
CALGARY- Since the birth of our country, Canadian soldiers have stepped forward without hesitation when duty called and Tuesday, we remembered.
One of the best attended ceremonies is traditionally at the military museum. On Remembrance Day, 100 years of Calgary’s military tradition was honoured and remembered.
Sergeant Brad Lowes raised the flag at the military museum’s remembrance, he saw combat in Afghanistan and stands proudly for those that have fallen.
“I saw the good things we did over there and it really helped me out the only thing that really affected me a lot was losing friends. That was probably the toughest thing we go through over there and it is very difficult coming home and seeing families and things like that but we all know what we get into by going over there and we accept the consequence that may happen for us,” Lowes said.
Lowes is recovering from a broken back; he was blown up three times by improvised explosive devices and once by an RPG but says he will never regret his call to duty.
“I never really knew what I was going to be like in combat. We can always say what we think it’s going to be like but until that first round goes over your head you are not sure what you are going to have,” Lowes said.
It’s the 75th anniversary of world war 2 and one documentary filmmaker is looking at getting these veterans recorded before it’s too late. People like Raymond Gilbert captured by the Germans at Dieppe.”
“I had my hands raised and he is gesturing to me in German telling me to drop my gun. It was the first Canadians captured and they wanted to make a big point of it,” Gilbert said.
Stacy Nephin, the filmmaker says he has talked to 19 Canadians since he began his mission. Since then, 20 veterans have died, so it’s literally a race against time.
“We have had vets that have had post traumatic stress disorder and when they talk about world war two they go through that stress so its not good for them and we try to limit the stress that comes to them.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of WW1 and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, which served at places like Vimy Ridge.
Captain Dave Peabody is in charge at the museum, allowing everyone to see a living history and remember the contributions.
“Especially those who didn’t come home with us from Afghanistan and I think about the past and those who wore the uniform before us, my regiment especially and also my family members who served before,” Peabody said.
The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light infantry also honoured their 100th anniversary by recreating their trademark song Ric A Dam Doo, as Canada remembers their sacrifice.
Canadian singer songwriter Bryan Adam’s penciled a new version and teamed up with the wives of Afghanistan veterans to sing and record the song.
In December at the Kensington Legion there will be a special night for the world war two veterans who will preview all the interviews for the upcoming documentary
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