SASKATOON 2024 REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY UPDATE    

Hello Fellow Veterans
I am the volunteer Program Director of the 2024 Saskatoon Remembrance Day Committee. On Monday November 11th we will return to SaskTel Centre for the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony.    I am reaching out to you as a former serving member to update you on the Remembrance Day Program, as well as some of the initiatives that have taken place to commemorate Saskatoon Veterans over the past year.
1. 2024 Remembrance Day Ceremony - With the passage of time many of our previous generations of Veterans are no longer with us, but for them November 11th was a sacred day.  For many service members November 11th, is a moment of reflection about the friends we served with, the places we have been and the realities of service that we witnessed.  
Each year during the Remembrance Day Ceremony when the “Old Guard” marches on the response from the crowd is thunderous.  We can be proud of the fact that our fellow citizens show us that respect.  Our objective is to fill those ranks of the Old Guard with us, all generations of Canadian Forces and Allied Nation Members now retired or still serving and still able. On November 11th, we have a common bond of service, regardless of where our time in uniform took us. 
This year we will be paying compliments to two Veterans from our community Flight Lieutenant Stan Hodgins who is 102 and served with two operational squadrons during the Second World War.  Stan was part of 113 Squadron whose mission was hunting German Submarines off the coast of Nova Scotia.  Mid war he was sent halfway around the world to Burma where he served with 436 Squadron providing aerial support to the British Army in their fight against the Japanese.  
Stan will be joined by Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Al Boyce, who is a 26-year veteran of the CAF.  Al was ground crew certified to work on 7 different classifications of aircraft.  He worked as part of air maintenance detachments both on land and at sea.  WO Boyce was part of 409 Squadron and served during OPERATION FRICTION during the Gulf War in support of Combat Air Patrols.
2. Commemoration/Advocacy – This past year, we held commemoration services at Woodlawn Cemetery, unveiling plaques, to three former members who are no longer with us and paid the ultimate sacrifice, as a result of their service.  Along with the families of Cpl Mike Pridell, Sgt Chris Bourque and MWO Guy Law we unveiled trees and plaques in their honour, which is the tradition at Woodlawn. All three of these soldiers served in the former Yugoslavia and died because of their service.  We will Remember Them.
Advocacy – Advocacy on behalf of veterans is an ongoing mission for us.  In May we had the chance to speak with the Veterans Affairs Canada Ombud, Jardine Nishika when she came to Saskatoon.  The Ombud Town Hall gave us the chance to learn more about the role of the office and some of the successes the office has had. More importantly she listened to the concerns both individually and collectively, that we had in terms of Veterans support.  I had the chance to meet with Jardine in August at the National Legion Dominion Command Conference to carry on those discussions.  We need to continue to advocate for veterans and hold others accountable for better support.

3. Join the Ranks - I know that our ceremony is watched by those in attendance, on TV and online, by the residents of Saskatchewan and those outside the province who make decisions that impact Veterans. When I spoke with the Ombud she asked how many former service members are in Saskatoon and area, defining this number is critical to our mission of advocacy.  Marching in the Old Guard is a tangible way of showing our numbers.  
In addition, by marching in the Old Guard we are paying tribute to those Veterans from previous generations who are no longer with us, but once also filled those ranks.  
I would ask you to consider marching in the parade as part of the Old Guard to send a message to all those watching, in Saskatoon and beyond that our Veterans community is strong. You can use the Ramp 3 door on the South side ground level.  If you come in the Main upper doors head down to the main floor head to the Ramp 3 entrance and the Parade Marshall will direct, you to the Old Guard form up location.  QMSI asks you to arrive NLT 0945.
I know that for some of us the days of being on parade are no longer feasible, so I hope you are able to attend the Ceremony at SaskTel Centre and seated in the Veterans Section.  I want to thank you for your service to our country and the broader community.  

Regards

Malcolm Young, S.O.M., C.D.
2024 Remembrance Day Vice Chair/Program Director
skveterans@gmail.com
2024 Saskatoon Remembrance Day Committee