By Stephanie Froese

Veterans, Canada Day icons

Jul 3, 2011 | 8:32 AM

The Canada that is celebrated this weekend would not be what it is today if it were not for what the nation’s veterans went through, said veteran Leon Gobeil.

“We can celebrate from what our military, our members, our veterans went through, to bring the free country that we can have a Canada Day and enjoy ourselves,” Gobeil said.

Gobeil carried the colours in the Canada Day parade in Prince Albert. Being a young man during the Second World War, he said he joined towards the end.

He said he wishes young people today would experience the discipline and community he experienced during war time. Still, Gobeil said he sees more and more young people appreciate what veterans went through.

“I think the word is out much more now than it was for a while. For a while we didn’t talk about it, but now it seems that people want to talk about it more.”

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Gobeil said young people can travel abroad easier these days, and see for themselves why they should appreciate Canada’s veterans.

“We Canadians are so proud of being Canadians and we’re so much appreciated around the world because we were the only known volunteers to the war,” veteran Ed Laird said.

Laird served in the Second World War as a signalman for gunners with the Second Field Regiment and is a member of the Prince Albert Legion.

“We’re the only army ever that has gone to stop wars and never kept anything we won. We always gave it back to whoever owned it. That people can’t understand. Everybody else takes a war to get something. Canada’s always stopped that and gave it back to the people.”

Laird said it made him feel good to see young people supporting veterans in Prince Albert on Canada Day.

sfroese@panow.com