Local veterans help unveil Lest We Forget stamp

REMEMBRANCE DAY: New stamp honours ultimate sacrifice of past and current veterans

Posted By SARA ROSS, THE PACKET AND TIMES

Posted 3 months ago

Second World War veteran Arthur Angus and Warrant Officer Tim Aleman know what it means to give the ultimate sacrifice.

Angus, the community's second oldest Second World War vet, and Aleman, who nearly lost his life in Afghanistan, were on hand yesterday at Orillia's post office for the unveiling of the new Lest We Forget stamp, honouring those who gave their lives for Canada.

"It's a great honour for me -- to be here being one of more than 100,000 veterans in Canada -- to honour those who have made the supreme sacrifice," Angus said.

"It wasn't just the soldiers that made the sacrifice. It was people at home, too, families losing their fathers and husbands," he added.

Angus, a lieutenant working with M10 tank destroyers during Second World War, said the past always comes back to his mind in November.

"It brings back a lot of memories -- mostly sad," he said. "It makes me think of the attacks. It makes me think of the fighting."

Last March, Aleman, 44, was patrolling the Zari district of northern Afghanistan by foot to speak to Afghan locals who requested his assistance. Along the way, an improvised explosive device was triggered about five feet away from where he stood.

The explosion that followed took the lives of three people and injured several others, including Aleman.

His head bore the brunt of the explosion, sustaining severe head trauma, lacerations to his neck and face, and shrapnel injuries.

"I've come a long way, but still have a few minor kinks that need to be sorted out," the Ramara Township resident said. "I've just got to carry on with physiotherapy now and regain my strength."

Aleman said it was a "great pleasure" to attend the stamp unveiling and to speak with Angus.

"I can relate to the emotions, so it makes it easier to converse with each other."

For Aleman, remembering those who fought before him is important.

"They were the forefathers in establishing Canada itself and making sure it gets recognized."

Donna McCreary, Huronia/Muskoka area manager with the Canada Post, said the idea of honouring war heroes during the stamp unveiling was a local initiative.

"We thought it would be appropriate for us to honour some of the people that are veterans new and old," she said.

"With what's going on in Afghanistan the past is now becoming the present, so it's important everybody recognizes these people and understand what they've done."

sross@orilliapacket.com