From the moon landing to war to the invention of Post-It notes, computers, smartphones and the microwave, there害羞草研究所檚 no doubt that Roy Shopland, 97, has seen a lot throughout his life.

Now living at Creekside Independent Living in Vernon, there害羞草研究所檚 only one thing he wants to see every day: his 100-year-old Union Jack Flag.

The Union Jack Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom, which also represents an official or semi-official status in some other Commonwealth realms. In Canada, it害羞草研究所檚 ceremonial flag by parliamentary resolution and known here as the Royal Union Flag.

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害羞草研究所淢y mother brought it from England when my parents moved here in 1918,害羞草研究所� said Shopland. 害羞草研究所淪he wanted to bring a little piece of home [England] with her.害羞草研究所�

Three years later, Shopland was born.

害羞草研究所淚 was born May 26, 1921, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and my sister came three years later. Then, when I was eight, my Mom and Dad decided that they had enough of the Prairies and we moved to Vancouver.害羞草研究所�

Years later, he met his wife through their church and they married in 1945. Four years later they had their first son Ralf in March of 1949 and, two years after, they had their second son Eric.

Meanwhile, the Second World War began and, at 25, he decided to do his part for his country and volunteer for the Canadian Armed Forces.

害羞草研究所淚 thought about the Air Force but I害羞草研究所檓 allergic to heights so that wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have worked and so, eventually I settled on the Navy.害羞草研究所�

He was 25 when he enlisted and served for a total of three and a half years.

He served as an HMC 害羞草研究所� Chief Hospital Corpsman, Navy Designation Rating 害羞草研究所� for the Submarine service in Bermuda for about a year before being transferred to Esquimalt, Victoria.

害羞草研究所淢y mom prayed every Sunday I was gone for those in peril on the sea,害羞草研究所� he said, explaining how close his family was. 害羞草研究所淎fter the Navy, my dad would always say, 害羞草研究所榊ou volunteered for the Navy so don害羞草研究所檛 be volunteering for anything else.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

So, Shopland took up a career in the liquor business. Ironically, he said, he doesn害羞草研究所檛 drink alcohol.

害羞草研究所淚 never drank a drop. When I was in the Navy, it would be noon and we害羞草研究所檇 be at sea and they害羞草研究所檇 be having rum. I tried it once and just never much liked liquor 害羞草研究所� and I was the same with smoking. I just never liked it. 害羞草研究所�

He was in the liquor store business for 35 years 害羞草研究所� which is how he found himself relocated to Vernon in 1962. He retired at age 62 and has lived here ever since.

Shopland eventually inherited the flag when his mother died at the age of 84. But, he said, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 until about three months ago when his sons decided to get it framed.

Now, proudly displayed on the wall opposite the front door, it害羞草研究所檚 one of the first things you see when you enter Shopland害羞草研究所檚 apartment. If you look closely at the flag, sprawled across the edge in legible ink are the worlds: World War 1 1914-1918.

For Shopland, he said it symbolizes remembrance 害羞草研究所� of his mother, his country and his time serving Canada.

害羞草研究所淚n my will, I害羞草研究所檒l be giving it to my sons to share,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 important to me.害羞草研究所�

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