Keeping the peace: N.S. veterans honoured for their service overseas

Seven Maritimers are recognized for their peacekeeping service overseas – including a 105-year-old veteran.

Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Hospital in Halifax originally opened in 1917 as a temporary hospital for returning First World War soldiers, and more than 100 years later veterans continue to receive care there.

A special service was held at the hospital last week, where seven residents were honoured for their peacekeeping service.

“We want to say thank you to all of you, you kept us safe, you stepped up and you were the front line to keep our peace in Canada and around the world and for that we are extremely grateful,” said Barbara Adams, minister responsible for Military Relations, at the event.

The veterans were presented with a United Nations Peacekeeper Certificate of Recognition. They were given by the province of Nova Scotia to recognize their work and to mark the 80th anniversary of the UN.

“For them, the time that they spent as peacekeepers and in the Canadian Armed Forces seems like yesterday to them, and so to be honoured and recognized and shown appreciation from Nova Scotians is as important today as it would have been all those years ago,” Adams sad.

Veterans and their families later gathered in the lobby of the hospital for a candlelight ceremony ahead of Remembrance Day.

“It brings back a lot of memories… I lost some good friends over there in the Congo and it kind of makes you sad, but it’s alright,” said veteran Rudolf Mula.

Maritime Forces Atlantic Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz accepted a torch of remembrance during the ceremony from another veteran, 105-year-old Elias Gaudet.

“I’m quite honoured, because if you look at Elias, his service is quite remarkable. He served in World War Two and the Korean War and he is still with us this evening at the young age of 105 with his family,” she said.

Kurtz then passed the torch to Air Cadet FSgt Harshvi Yadav, who read the Commitment to Remember.

“I pass it to you and I encourage you to pass it forward with the same values that our veterans did,” Kurtz said.

Heather White, Camp Hill’s director, says the whole evening was very meaningful.

“To the veterans who live here, to see that participation from all of our community, all of the dignitaries that were here today, but particularly, I think, the young people,” she said.

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