Nov. 11 holds a special place in Justin EdwardsB次元官网网址� heart.
ItB次元官网网址檚 often an emotional time for Edwards, who is a member of the military police at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) in Nanoose Bay, as he remembers veterans who have fought in wars past and present, as well as friends who are still suffering the long-term effects of serving overseas.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great to remember the different sacrifices people have made and the different times they stood up for what they believe in,B次元官网网址� Edwards said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important for us to stand up and remember that B次元官网网址榶es, we went overseas, we went to war and it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for nothingB次元官网网址�. ItB次元官网网址檚 good to learn the lessons weB次元官网网址檝e learned and make sure theyB次元官网网址檙e passed down from generation to generation.B次元官网网址�
Growing up, Edwards always had the urge to help people and had dreams of becoming a police officer one day. Joining the Canadian Armed Forces wasnB次元官网网址檛 on his radar until he was 20 years old, after seeing recuitment campaigns in his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ont.
Edwards decided to go and ask questions without thinking anything of it, and within less than a week, he had started basic training to be an armoured crewman.
After one year of training, Edwards was posted with Lord StratconaB次元官网网址檚 Horse (Royal Canadians), an armoured regiment in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spent the next five years. Shortly after, he did a five-month tour in Afghanistan in 2010 where he was a gunner and loader for one of the tanks.
Despite his love of the military and the camradarie between soliders, Edwards admits life on the road took a toll on him, his wife and their four daughters. During one year, Edwards was only home on and off for about a month-and-a-half of the year, coming home for two to three days at a time, before having to leave for exercises or pre-deployment training.
Now, the 32-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 career has come full circle and heB次元官网网址檚 fulfilling his childhood dreams as a military police member, posted at CFMETR, where heB次元官网网址檚 served for the past year.
As a military police member, heB次元官网网址檚 responsible for dealing with the security and policing needs of the base, which has less than 100 personnel. B次元官网网址淲hen I joined the military I really wanted to do my part for my country. Afterwards, I fell in love with it. I love the military and couldnB次元官网网址檛 see myself being out of it,B次元官网网址� said Edwards, adding the new position has allowed him spend more time with his family and volunteer in the community.
B次元官网网址淚 had always had a dream of being a police officer B次元官网网址� it [making the transition to the military police] was the next step of still being in the military and fulfilling the one dream I had when I was younger B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 the idea of being there for people which IB次元官网网址檝e always been really drawn to.B次元官网网址�
Despite all the things heB次元官网网址檚 gone through overseas, Edwards hopes on Remembrance Day, the spotlight will once again be on the sacrifices of veterans.
B次元官网网址淔or me, itB次元官网网址檚 about remembering my friends, a lot of them have mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),B次元官网网址� said Edwards, noting he has struggled with PTSD, but not to the extent some of his friends have.
B次元官网网址淚 still remember a lot of them when we got into basic training together, and then now I talk to them and theyB次元官网网址檙e not the same people anymore.B次元官网网址�
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