Heartfelt words were shared Friday afternoon during the annual poppy campaign launch and unveiling of Veterans’ Way at the Callander Legion Br. 445.
Lynne Lavigne, widow of long-time mayor Hector Lavigne who passed away at the beginning of this year, was among the special guests.
Lavigne, along with Nancy Clark, represented the Br. 445 on the Callander beautification committee that oversaw the Veterans’ Way project. She assisted in the unveiling of the symbolic banner with Mayor Robb Noon.
“I don’t see just veterans, I see friends, families, close, close friends,” she said. “Hector would have loved to have been here today … It’s an honour for me to be here and I see the beautiful faces behind the masks and we’re trying to stay safe, please do.”
Lavigne drew parallels to the duty fulfilled by soldiers protecting Canadians around the world to how civilians have a duty at home to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s not just a war out there, it’s not just with guns, it’s also with our health, so please, stay safe and love you all,” she said.
Everyone at the event wore masks and kept a safe distance when not, such as when speaking. As another example of the precautions taken, while the Branch 445 Colour Guard marched in and out, Piper Matt Plant stood outside a door to reduce the wind instrument’s possible transmission boost.
Noon thanked the many volunteers in the community and the Legion for their hard work to honour the veterans.
The Callander Legion also serves neighbouring communities and Bonfield Mayor Randy McLaren and East Ferris Mayor Pauline Rochefort also spoke.
McLaren talked about how the sacrifices and suffering soldiers endured for the freedom Canadians enjoy all the time should be appreciated every day and not just Remembrance Day Nov. 11.
“It’s probably more than we can comprehend,” he said, noting the example south of the Canada-U.S. border with an election transpiring, noting the sacrifices and injuries suffered to preserve democracy so people can vote.
Rochefort said the centennial book project for East Ferris 1921-2021 reminded her of how many family roots tie Bonfield, Corbeil, Astorville and Callander together. And she noted that connection is highlighted on Remembrance Day because many of those same names are engraved beside each other on the Callander cenotaph.
Retired Sgt. Richard Rhindress, who served 1978 to 2002 all over Canada plus tours that saw him in the Golan Heights, Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait and Rwanda.
Rhindress said the Veterans’ Way initiative is appreciated and adds to Callander’s previous gesture of naming Veterans’ Ridge.
“It’s very touching and I think it’s well overdue,” he said, adding Canadians should at least pause for a minute on Remembrance Day – even if alone in the bush – to consider the sacrifices others have made for their freedoms.
Rhindress said he’d like youth to appreciate that others have made their lives possible.
“I liked them to think of what they can do and what they have in life … the veterans have given them that and I’d like them to just keep that in mind,” he said. “All their freedoms, their comings and goings, the fancy shopping malls, the theatres, all the things they enjoy, there was a sacrifice for that.”
Veteran James Dean recalled how he didn’t get to know his father, Walter, for the first six or seven years of his life because he was away fighting in the Second World War. Dean said his dad came back but didn’t enjoy working in the mines so he signed up again to fight in Korea.
While serving in Camp Borden himself, Dean recalled a good night out with his dad near Barrie while they were both in uniform.
An audio file of Piper Matt Plant plays Maple Leaf Forever below:
