Despite no in-person ceremonies, Remembrance Day will be a day of reflection for local veterans

In terms of how he is going celebrate the day he said he has to rethink his thought process. He is hoping to pay attention to the virtual service from the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon as well as in Ottawa.

“It’s a chance to reflect: one on my experiences overseas but also for the comrades, for the members that didn’t come back from overseas off the tours that I was on that were killed in action,” Rishchynski said. “That’s what I spend most of my time doing is the reflection. It’s kind of trying because we’re seeing more and more suicides in the last few years from guys I was overseas with that decided to take their own lives.”

Al Rishchynski leads the way during the march off of the colours and Parade at the Remembrance Day service in 2019. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

He added he’ll be using Remembrance Day to reflect on those who took their own lives because “people are hurting and sometimes we don’t even realize it they’re hurting to the point where they would take their own lives.”

Rishchynski has been in the Canadian Forces since 1981 and did a tour in Afghanistan in 2007 and one in Africa in 2009.

Standing for freedom

Gerald Minielly, who is still actively serving with the army reserves, told paNOW his day will be spent on personal reflection and spending it with his wife, remembering those lost in all conflicts stemming from the First World War, Second World War, the Korean War, peace keeping, and Afghanistan.

“Just as myself I’ve lost good friends and just to remember that what they did and what they stood for and wanting to make this world a better place,” he said.

Minielly joined the army reserves in 2004 in Saskatoon and in 2009 he was attached to the First Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and served in Afghanistan from October 2009 to June 2010.

After that he came back to Canada and moved to Prince Albert and is now actively serving as a sergeant in P.A.

Serving in Afghanistan, he explained, had its ups and downs.

“There’s a lot of good times with good friends because we’ve become very close while we were over there but there were also the dark times,” he said. “Even in the seven months I was there you could see a drastic change from when I got there and when I left in what was the improvement of life.”

Poppy campaign underway

President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 2, Rick Hodgson said folks will still be honouring those who served despite the COVID-19 restrictions that will create a much quieter Remembrance Day. He’s heard some plan to stand on their doorsteps at the 11^th hour for a moment of silence.

Since the public will not be laying wreaths at any formal ceremonies, Hodgson said he’d already seen a woman putting a wreath on her front door.

“So, it’s actually another way that is actually good to show your respect to be buying a wreath for the veterans and placing it on your doorstep,” he explained.

The sale of wreaths has been down this year for the local Legion because there will be no formal service at the Armouries. Hodgson said anyone wanting to buy one can call the legion and they’ll help you get one.

Last week the first poppy was pinned on Don Graves, a medic veteran at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 2 in Prince Albert, which signifies the beginning of the annual fundraising campaign.

Hodgson explained buying a poppy also helps support the veterans. They’re still in stores around the community but you can also do so at the branch in P.A.

“We appreciate everything that people do to help support our poppy campaign and seeing there is no service we’re going to do the best we can. That’s all we can do and take it from there.It was a bad year and everything with COVID it just took the sales out of everything,” Hodgson said.

–

Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12

by Ian Gustafson

Despite no in-person ceremonies, Remembrance Day will be a day of reflection for local veterans

What's Trending