Veterans

Derek Doubleday Arboretum is one of Sarah Vandergugten’s favourite places to walk. “We often stop at the Afghanistan Memorial. The 2022 Silver Cross Mother is Candy Greff. Her son, Master Corporal Byron Greff of the Princess Patricia Light Infantry was the last of 158 Canadian soldiers to die in Afghanistan. It’s good to remember,” she said. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

SHARE: A spot for tranquil reflection – year round

Send us your photo showing how you view Langley, and it could be featured in a future edition

  • Nov 21, 2022

 

Tyler DeJong and Mandy Kirkpatrick were rowing for Honour House on Saturday morning, Nov. 12, as a 24-hour fundraising rowathon drew to a close in Langley. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: How a Langley row-a-thon for veterans got started

24-hour Remembrance Day event raises funds for Honour House

 

After the Remembrance Day service at the Fort Langley cenotaph, people placed their poppies on the plinth. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Fort Langley remembers veterans’ sacrifices as hundreds pack Remembrance Day event

From seniors to young children, the crowd was back to pre-pandemic numbers this year

 

A few businesses and organizations in town offer freebies for veterans on Remembrance Day, as a way to say thanks for their service. (Black Press Media)

TODAY: Free for veterans

Tim Hortons offers complimentary hot beverages, TransLink provides transit, Mobil1 gives oil changes

A few businesses and organizations in town offer freebies for veterans on Remembrance Day, as a way to say thanks for their service. (Black Press Media)
Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Frustration, anxiety persist as Liberals claim success on wait times for veterans

An estimated 23,000 veterans are waiting for their disability claims to be processed by the federal department

Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Lloyd Reynard showed a station card issued to him. It kept track of how many beer, rum, and cigarette rations went to each sailor, and also listed his rank, mess number, birthday, religion, and whether or not he would accept rations of alcohol. More about local Remembrance Day services on page 12. (Frank Bucholtz/Special to The Star)

Military vital to peace: Langley veteran

Lloyd Reynard learned the value of being prepared while he was in the navy

  • Nov 11, 2022
Lloyd Reynard showed a station card issued to him. It kept track of how many beer, rum, and cigarette rations went to each sailor, and also listed his rank, mess number, birthday, religion, and whether or not he would accept rations of alcohol. More about local Remembrance Day services on page 12. (Frank Bucholtz/Special to The Star)
John Swityk at age 97 in 2018 at a Langley Remembrance Day event. The D-Day veteran turned 100 last year. (Langley Advance Times files)

In Our View: From memory into history

We need new ways to mark the great wars as many veterans die of old age

  • Nov 10, 2022
John Swityk at age 97 in 2018 at a Langley Remembrance Day event. The D-Day veteran turned 100 last year. (Langley Advance Times files)
A veteran posed for a picture by the Langley City cenotaph at the 2019 Remembrance Day service. (Langley Advance Times file)

WEB POLL: Attending a Remembrance Day event?

Will you be attending in person this year?

  • Nov 10, 2022
A veteran posed for a picture by the Langley City cenotaph at the 2019 Remembrance Day service. (Langley Advance Times file)
The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum

‘War hero of the family’: Canadian War Museum acquires 3 more Victoria Crosses

Museum now has 36 of the 73 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians in the First World War

The Victoria Cross Medal belonging to Pte. James Peter Robertson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum
A veteran posed for a picture by the Langley City cenotaph at the 2019 Remembrance Day service. This year, the in-person ceremony will return. (Langley Advance Times file)

City returns with in-person Remembrance Day traditions

No parade and fly-past this year

A veteran posed for a picture by the Langley City cenotaph at the 2019 Remembrance Day service. This year, the in-person ceremony will return. (Langley Advance Times file)
Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Frustration, anxiety persist as Liberals claim success on wait times for veterans

More than 23,000 veterans have disability claims that are waiting to be processed

Veteran Stephen LaSalle is shown in Ottawa, on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. When LaSalle first injured his foot in a military training exercise, he had only heard the stories about what it was like to deal with Veterans Affairs Canada. Five years later, the reservist naval lieutenant can talk about the experience firsthand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Cobra Electric’s Doug Grande and team rehung a series of Remembrance Day banners in front of the Fort Langley National Historic Site, and were moved to Google each veteran’s name to learn more about their sacrifices. (Richard Jewer/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Banners help localize significance of Remembrance Day

Pictorial tributes raised in Langley City and Fort Langley ahead of Nov. 11 services

Cobra Electric’s Doug Grande and team rehung a series of Remembrance Day banners in front of the Fort Langley National Historic Site, and were moved to Google each veteran’s name to learn more about their sacrifices. (Richard Jewer/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Chief Petty Officer First Class (retired) Jake McDavid stands in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Veterans’ parade returns to national Remembrance Day after two-year hiatus

Parade was cancelled the past two years due to health concerns associated with the COVID-19

Chief Petty Officer First Class (retired) Jake McDavid stands in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Trumpeter Brian Parkinson is one of the cofounders of the Remembrance Day services at Murrayville Cemetery that attracts a few hundred to pay their respects on Nov. 11. (Langley Advance Times files)

Sixth annual Murrayville Remembrance Day services growing

Event takes place at a Langley cenotaph erected after First World War

  • Nov 5, 2022
Trumpeter Brian Parkinson is one of the cofounders of the Remembrance Day services at Murrayville Cemetery that attracts a few hundred to pay their respects on Nov. 11. (Langley Advance Times files)
The Royal Canadian Legion’s Aldergrove branch, like many, held a virtual Remembrance Day service in 2021. Their events were livestreamed on Facebook. (Special to The Star)

Aldergrove Legion invites public to first in-person Remembrance Day ceremony since COVID hit

Public encouraged to come out and honour the lives of veterans

The Royal Canadian Legion’s Aldergrove branch, like many, held a virtual Remembrance Day service in 2021. Their events were livestreamed on Facebook. (Special to The Star)
Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

B.C. lieutenant governor presented with first poppy to kick off 2022 campaign

Funds raised from annual Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign supports veterans

Retired Staff Sgt.-Maj. Kathy Rochlitz (left), Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Craig Thompson, Dave Sinclair and Norm Scott pose for a photo after presenting the first poppy at Government House on Oct. 25. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Langley’s Charlie Farquharson has created a second song in honour of Canada’s veterans, this time for organizers of the annual veterans walk held on Saturday, Sept. 24. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Langley student creates song to honour veterans

Was requested by organizers of Canadian Walk for Veterans

Langley’s Charlie Farquharson has created a second song in honour of Canada’s veterans, this time for organizers of the annual veterans walk held on Saturday, Sept. 24. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017. An internal audit outlining significant problems with Ottawa’s administration of hundreds of millions of dollars in medical marijuana for veterans is being met with shock and concern by mental-health providers and others.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

‘Wild West’: Audit on veterans’ medical cannabis sparks calls for oversight, research

Probe sparks calls to better protect at-risk veterans and taxpayer dollars

Medical marijuana is shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017. An internal audit outlining significant problems with Ottawa’s administration of hundreds of millions of dollars in medical marijuana for veterans is being met with shock and concern by mental-health providers and others.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
B.C. filmmaker Eric Brunt is working to preserve as many Second World War veterans’ stories on film as possible. (Credit: Phil Hossack)

‘Last possible second’: B.C. filmmaker racing to preserve remaining WWII veterans’ stories

Average Canadian WWII veteran now 97 years old

B.C. filmmaker Eric Brunt is working to preserve as many Second World War veterans’ stories on film as possible. (Credit: Phil Hossack)
A group of Canadian veterans headed to the mountains of Whistler Saturday (Aug. 27) for a hike drawing attention to chronic pain. (Black Press Media file photo)

Veterans seek adventure in Whistler to bring awareness to chronic pain

12 veterans helicoptered to Whistler peak Saturday (Aug. 27) for 7 km hike

  • Aug 29, 2022
A group of Canadian veterans headed to the mountains of Whistler Saturday (Aug. 27) for a hike drawing attention to chronic pain. (Black Press Media file photo)