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Local soldiers special guests at Remembrance Day ceremonies
Susan Thompson
for Express
Ceremonies to remember fallen and surviving soldiers will be held in McLennan on Nov. 11 again this year.
The veterans from all wars past and present will be honoured.
“It’s our 91st anniversary since the war to end all wars finished, and we’re fast running out of veterans,” says Don Fish, a veteran himself and secretary treasurer of the Legion. “We’ve always had great support from the Smoky River region.”
This year’s celebrations will take on a special significance because they will also honour local members of the Canadian troops.
McLennan’s Brian Whelan, Jeremy McNeil and Daniel Payou have received the military’s permission to attend the ceremonies on Nov. 11.
“I think it’s just wonderful to have people right from our area [at the ceremony], who want to stand up for the country and stand up for peace,” says Brian Whelan’s mother Colette Whelan.
“On Remembrance Day we remember our fallen soldiers, but there’s a whole different kind of war going on right now.”
Whelan, McNeil, and Payou are all privates and are currently posted at CFB Edmonton.
Payou is in the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, McNeil is in the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and Whelan is in the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Regimental Headquarters Signals Squadron.
Whelan will be deployed to Afghanistan next year.
“I know my boy is going next year,” says Brian’s father Barry Whelan. “It’s what he wants. He wants to go.”
McNeil was supposed to be deployed to Afghanistan this year, but a knee injury kept him from going.
“I was supposed to go three weeks ago but I couldn’t because of my knee surgery,” McNeil says. “I would have been with the guy who just died.”
Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, was killed when his foot patrol was hit by the blast at about 9 a.m. local time on Oct. 28 southwest of Kandahar City in Panjwayi district. Boyes was in the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and was only 10 days into his second deployment to Afghanistan.
Two soldiers who were also wounded in the incident have been treated and are in good condition.
McNeil may still be deployed to Afghanistan.
“It all depends on how my next surgery goes,” McNeil says. “My battalion is going on task force 111 in Afghanistan.”
McNeil says he has wanted to fight for freedom for his country since he was four years old.
This is the first year all three soldiers will be participating in local Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“It feels awesome. Me and Brian tried to do it last year but we couldn’t because we were on exercise,” says McNeil. “We’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. It’ll be quite cool to come back to our hometown.”
Some plans are still being finalized, but Jeremy McNeil will make a speech at the ceremonies, while Brian Whelan is planning to bring a wreath. All three soldiers will be in uniform.
Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held at the Elks Hall in McLennan on Nov. 11 starting at 10:45 am. Dunvegan-Central Peace MLA Hector Goudreau will be the guest speaker. Music will be provided again this year by the Northern Lights Encore Choir and soloist John O’Mahony.
Following the ceremonies at the hall, there will be a parade to the Legion to present the final wreath. The Legion will then serve tea and crumpets to all who attend. A roast beef supper will also be held there at 6 pm. Admittance to the supper is by donation only.
Remembrance Day poppies are now available at your local post office and town office.
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