Red Deer Legion honours veterans on D-Day anniversary

“That cave system went all the way up to Vimy Ridge, several hundreds of miles, and every day when we walked through those doors was eerie knowing there were troops shot there,” he recalls.

Close to 500 Canadian flags were laid at the graves of veterans at Red Deer’s two main cemeteries on Thursday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“There was a chamber inside that cave system used as a slaughter chamber by the Nazis. You could pick the bullets out of the walls.”

Melnick also lamented what he feels is the falling by the wayside of remembrance by today’s youth, and he urges young people to attend ceremonies on November 11, not just events held in schools.

Lorraine Pillman, president of the Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary, was also at Thursday’s ceremony.

Pillman’s ex-husband and son-in-law both served in the military, something which she is very proud of.

“My son-in-law took the initiative, and it was a career to him. He had over 30 years in the service,” she said.

“He doesn’t talk much about it because like many others, he’s got some PTSD, but I’m still proud of the fact that he was part of the peacekeeping corps.”

Pillman, who grew up in Wainwright, a military town, added how grateful she is for the heroic acts of D-Day.

“We have an awesome country to live in, and we have seen very little unrest in our country,” she said. “The ones who’ve gone over to fight in Europe and Asia, it’s because of them that we haven’t had to experience war, or the stuff they fought against to keep us safe.”

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by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer Legion honours veterans on D-Day anniversary

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