Adorned with more than a dozen medals for his time serving in the Second World War, Gerald Gaudet smiled softly as he collected donations for poppies inside a Surrey shopping centre this week.

Some people shuffled by without so much as a glance.

But others stopped and with warm smiles, took the decorated veteranB次元官网网址檚 hand into theirs.

B次元官网网址淲hat an honour,B次元官网网址� said Priya Jeyasegar as she shook GaudetB次元官网网址檚 hand. B次元官网网址淪eeing a veteran like yourself, it gives me that peace of mind, and hope.B次元官网网址�

Jeyasegar told Gaudet she had also personally experienced war, albeit from a different perspective.

She recalled being just eight years old when she had to be locked in a room for three days, during Sri LankaB次元官网网址檚 civil war.

B次元官网网址淐anada is that safe haven,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd you guys fought for it. Thank you. That means a lot.B次元官网网址�

The two got to talking about both of their life stories. Smiles were exchanged, as were a few solemn looks.

Soon after Jeyasegar left, a young man asked permission to shake GaudetB次元官网网址檚 hand.

B次元官网网址淭hank you so much for your service,B次元官网网址� said Tristan Tsang, bowing his head ever so slightly. B次元官网网址淭hank you so much for your sacrifice.B次元官网网址�

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Little did either of them know, Gaudet is a genuine knight, having received the Order of France in 2014. The honour was celebrated in SurreyB次元官网网址檚 City Centre area with a parade that some 200 people attended.

B次元官网网址淭hey closed traffic in town here,B次元官网网址� Gaudet modestly recalled. B次元官网网址淭hey had a speaker from France here to present it. I had about 20 RCMP in their Red Serge parading. It was quite the day, a day I never forgot.

B次元官网网址淎 big day.B次元官网网址�

Asked what Remembrance Day means to him, Gaudet paused.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a good question,B次元官网网址� he replied, taking another moment.

B次元官网网址淚 remember way back when, shortly after the war, and I started in the glass industry in Alberta, Nov. 11 was just another day, everybody working,B次元官网网址� Gaudet said.

B次元官网网址淚t was not recognized. I joined the union to fight that. That was one of my projects, to get Nov. 11 to be a holiday. ThatB次元官网网址檚 back in B次元官网网址�47, B次元官网网址�48. Still, every day, I think about how hard it was to get Nov. 11 to be acknowledged by everybody.B次元官网网址�

What made it so challenging?

B次元官网网址淭he problem with Nov. 11, and the war, it was never taught to the kids at school,B次元官网网址� Gaudet explained. B次元官网网址淚n Europe, Belgium, Holland, every kid in school knows all about the Canadian army in the war, but no kids in Canada were ever taught about it.B次元官网网址�

But heB次元官网网址檚 proud to have been part of the effort to have the holiday, now, a part of nationB次元官网网址檚 fabric.

B次元官网网址淚 get calls quite often to go speak at school around Nov. 11,B次元官网网址� said Gaudet. B次元官网网址淭heir questions knock me down, itB次元官网网址檚 like a sponge, all those kids want to know more and more.B次元官网网址�

Gaudet was born in New Brunswick and said he was 17 when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He first served in Alberta, surveying land to build a camp for prisoners of war. He was sent overseas in 1944, unaware he was bound for Juno Beach.

Gaudet was also in the Battle of Caen, one of the largest battles after D-Day. He was tasked with building new bridges across rivers and canals in Belgium and Holland, so Allied forces could advance.

In all, his service earned him more than a dozen medals, the German Star and French Star among them.

B次元官网网址淚t was another job in the service. It was no special thing, but you done it day to day,B次元官网网址� Gaudet said.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen tomorrow, but youB次元官网网址檙e part of it.B次元官网网址�

Gaudet is one of the oldest B次元官网网址� if not the oldest B次元官网网址� veteran of the Whalley LegionB次元官网网址檚 roughly 700 members. But he doesnB次元官网网址檛 let that slow him down.

Ninety-six years young, Gaudet chuckles as he explains he still likes to go bowling, still drives and still lives independently, in his home which, yes, he also cleans himself.

B次元官网网址淢y wife passed away 15 years ago and I still live in the same house that we did. Still do all the chores by myself and enjoy life,B次元官网网址� he remarked. B次元官网网址淭ry to keep as busy as possible.B次元官网网址�

YouB次元官网网址檒l be able to see Gaudet this Sunday, at the Whalley LegionB次元官网网址檚 parade and service, which he attends faithfully.

B次元官网网址淚 usually lay a candle on the cenotaph they have for the veterans, different branches, the navy, the army, the air force,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 lay candles there.B次元官网网址�

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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