Dear Residents of SYSRC:
Given the proximity of SYSRC to CFB Gagetown, I am assuming that November 11th is an especially poignant day for many people in your lovely community. I wanted to acknowledge it.
November was always an important day in my family as I was growing up in Tracadie. My maternal grandfather lived with us, and he had fought in World War I. He was at Vimy Ridge, Ypres, La Somme and Passchendaele to name a few of the battles he fought. I still have his medals.
He had a lung removed in the mid-1920s due to a wound he suffered in a gas attack at Ypres. He also lost a brother at Vimy Ridge. He was such a good man, and I learned a lot from him. He talked a lot to me about life in the trenches. He died a long time ago, but I still think about him, especially on November 11th. I am sure many of you have similar stories in your family.
I hope that tomorrow you all get to reflect on the sacrifices made for us by so many, including maybe some very close family members to many of you. Remembrance Day is an important day, and I wish you a peaceful and solemn day that is filled with gratitude and comforting memories.
Don Ferguson
Supervisor SYSRC