Good afternoon!
I want to thank our honoured guests and all of you for being here this afternoon!
At this time, I’d like to acknowledge a past Veteran, Ray Hessler, who diligently fought for Veterans rights and was the driving force in ensuring we have our beautiful cenotaph honouring our Veterans year round!
I have to say when Tricia contacted me last week, I was excited and honoured to participate in this event! What I didn’t expect was the emotion I felt when I came across our wonderful City crew who were painting the poppies on this crosswalk! Such a seemingly small gesture that touched my heart so powerfully! A small gesture that resonated with so many across the country! I have received numerous messages and phone calls from friends and families over the past couple of days telling me how much this means to them as well!
My husband, Keith and I have each served 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces! And in our 25 years of service, we have seen and continue to see the toll military life takes on our families and friends! And how many of those have lost their lives serving our country!
The first military friend I lost was on November 16th, 1982, in a CC130 Hercules crash! MCpl Layton Smith was of seven crew members that lost their lives that day!
And there were many more friends that we lost thru out the years who pop into my head on a regular basis!
MCpl Jean Roy, MCpl Darryl Cronin, MCpl Phil Young, Capt Kevin Nasmith and to many others!
I know their families would also be so touched that we are here today honouring them today!
The poppy to me has been a symbol of what our Veterans, Military, RCMP, and Emergency Services do for our country! It is a reminder that without the men and women who fought for our freedom, and those that continue to do so, we would not be here today!
The poppy to me is not one person’s poppy! It is not one organizations poppy! The poppy belongs to all of us! And wouldn’t it be fantastic if every city, town, and village thru out our wonderful Country had a crosswalk just like ours! Not for just one day or one week but year round!
Keigan, thank you so very much for asking the question! Why do we only honour our Veterans one day a year? I know, as so many of us do, we remember them, we support them, we support each other for more than one day a year!
Lest we forget!
Sergeant (Retired) Maxine McKellar CD
