The 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre, with help from the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove Branch 265, allowed members and other seniors in the community to mark Remembrance Day on Friday morning.
The centre wanted to offer an indoor service for those who can鈥檛 stand for long periods of time at outdoor services due to infirmity or the weather.
鈥淲e wanted to make sure that those who couldn鈥檛 make it to there that we did honour our veterans with a full service,鈥� said Lee Douglas, a seniors centre board member.
She honoured the her recently deceased husband who served in the air force and her late mother-in-law who was also in the air force.
[Story continues below video]
Fernridge resident Melvin Anderson spoke of his friend who had a stroke recently and then developed pneumonia. Anderson went to visit him in the hospital in Abbotsford. The stroke left the man鈥檚 right side incapacitated so, from his hospital bed, the friend saluted Anderson with his left hand.
鈥淏oy, that shook me up. When I think of it, he was saying goodbye,鈥� Anderson told the crowd.
The friend, whom Anderson has known for six decades and served with in Korea, died two days later.
Anderson was with the Princess Patricia鈥檚 Canadian Light Infantry and at the age of 20, spent year fighting in Korea.
Now 87, he speaks at schools and other places around Remembrance Day, grateful for the freedoms enjoyed by Canadians.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of countries where kids that are not happy, don鈥檛 go to school, don鈥檛 have a school and are suffering,鈥� Anderson noted. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the thing about the war in Korea that hurt me the most, is the suffering.鈥�
Lee Douglas, with the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre, gave wooden poppies made by Jim Rowly, a member of the centre鈥檚 woodworking club, to the Aldergrove Legion to helping with the centre鈥檚 Remembrance Day service. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)The 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre held a Remembrance Day service on Friday, Nov. 9 for those unable to stand at local outdoor ceremonies on Nov. 11. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)Melvin Anderson served during Korea War in the 1950s. A photo of him is in a history book about the conflict. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)The 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre held a Remembrance Day service on Friday, Nov. 9 for those unable to stand at local outdoor ceremonies on Nov. 11. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)The 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre held a Remembrance Day service on Friday, Nov. 9 for those unable to stand at local outdoor ceremonies on Nov. 11. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)The Silver Belles and Beaux performed at a Remembrance Day service at the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre on Friday morning. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)With help from Aldergrove Legion members, the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre hosted a Remembrance Day service on Friday morning. (Heather Colpitts/Black PressAt a special Remembrance Day service on Friday, Nov. 9, retired RCMP member Doug Wells placed his poppy on the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre wreath that would be placed at the cenotaph at the Nov. 11 ceremony. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)The 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre held a Remembrance Day service on Friday, Nov. 9 for those unable to stand at local outdoor ceremonies on Nov. 11. (Heather Colpitts/Black Press)
Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.
