Special lapel pin for veterans available in Thornhill

MP Kent seeking those who served for honour

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 6, 2014
By Simone Joseph

For Peter Kent, the Second World War holds special significance.

Thornhill’s Member of Parliament was born in a Canadian army hospital in England. His father was a captain with the Edmonton regiment and his mother was a plastic surgery nurse in the army. He also has aunts and uncles who were in the Second and First World Wars.

“I have always had a sense of affection for that generation that lost their youth,” Kent said Monday.

On Sept.10, Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced a new national tribute to mark the 75th anniversary of Canada’s involvement in the Second World War and the extraordinary role Canadians played in the Allied victory.

All living Canadian veterans of the Second World War are eligible to receive a limited-edition commemorative lapel pin and a personalized certificate of recognition.

Kent explains there are many veterans who are not known to us, so this program is a way of finding these people and honouring them.

“We have to call upon the community to give us names,” he said. “It gives the community a chance to thank individuals who have served in the Armed Forces or Navy. It is another way of remembering.

From a young nation of 11 million, more than 1 million Canadian and Newfoundland men and women served in the Second World War. By the end of the war, Canada had the third largest navy, the fourth largest air force and an army of six divisions. However, Canada’s losses were tremendous: more than 45,000 Canadian men and women gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded.

An estimated 80,000 Second World War veterans remain in Canada.

The design of the commemorative pin and the illustration on the certificate are based on the original “Victory Nickel”, which features a flaming torch and a large V standing both for victory and the coin’s denomination. The coin was originally in circulation from 1943 to 1945 and was re-issued in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Canadians who served at least one day with the Canadian Forces or with any other Allied force, including the Canadian or British Merchant Navy during the Second World War are eligible to apply for the commemorative pin and certificate.

Request forms are available at Kent’s office or online at: veterans.gc.ca/eng/forms/document/542. Call or visit Kent’s office for more information.