Adorned with more than a dozen medals for his time serving in the Second World War, Gerald Gaudet smiled softly as he collected donations for poppies inside a Surrey shopping centre this week.

Some people shuffled by without so much as a glance.

But others stopped and with warm smiles, took the decorated veteran害羞草研究所檚 hand into theirs.

害羞草研究所淲hat an honour,害羞草研究所� said Priya Jeyasegar as she shook Gaudet害羞草研究所檚 hand. 害羞草研究所淪eeing a veteran like yourself, it gives me that peace of mind, and hope.害羞草研究所�

Jeyasegar told Gaudet she had also personally experienced war, albeit from a different perspective.

She recalled being just eight years old when she had to be locked in a room for three days, during Sri Lanka害羞草研究所檚 civil war.

害羞草研究所淐anada is that safe haven,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎nd you guys fought for it. Thank you. That means a lot.害羞草研究所�

The two got to talking about both of their life stories. Smiles were exchanged, as were a few solemn looks.

Soon after Jeyasegar left, a young man asked permission to shake Gaudet害羞草研究所檚 hand.

害羞草研究所淭hank you so much for your service,害羞草研究所� said Tristan Tsang, bowing his head ever so slightly. 害羞草研究所淭hank you so much for your sacrifice.害羞草研究所�

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Little did either of them know, Gaudet is a genuine knight, having received the Order of France in 2014. The honour was celebrated in Surrey害羞草研究所檚 City Centre area with a parade that some 200 people attended.

害羞草研究所淭hey closed traffic in town here,害羞草研究所� Gaudet modestly recalled. 害羞草研究所淭hey had a speaker from France here to present it. I had about 20 RCMP in their Red Serge parading. It was quite the day, a day I never forgot.

害羞草研究所淎 big day.害羞草研究所�

Asked what Remembrance Day means to him, Gaudet paused.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a good question,害羞草研究所� he replied, taking another moment.

害羞草研究所淚 remember way back when, shortly after the war, and I started in the glass industry in Alberta, Nov. 11 was just another day, everybody working,害羞草研究所� Gaudet said.

害羞草研究所淚t was not recognized. I joined the union to fight that. That was one of my projects, to get Nov. 11 to be a holiday. That害羞草研究所檚 back in 害羞草研究所�47, 害羞草研究所�48. Still, every day, I think about how hard it was to get Nov. 11 to be acknowledged by everybody.害羞草研究所�

What made it so challenging?

害羞草研究所淭he problem with Nov. 11, and the war, it was never taught to the kids at school,害羞草研究所� Gaudet explained. 害羞草研究所淚n Europe, Belgium, Holland, every kid in school knows all about the Canadian army in the war, but no kids in Canada were ever taught about it.害羞草研究所�

But he害羞草研究所檚 proud to have been part of the effort to have the holiday, now, a part of nation害羞草研究所檚 fabric.

害羞草研究所淚 get calls quite often to go speak at school around Nov. 11,害羞草研究所� said Gaudet. 害羞草研究所淭heir questions knock me down, it害羞草研究所檚 like a sponge, all those kids want to know more and more.害羞草研究所�

Gaudet was born in New Brunswick and said he was 17 when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He first served in Alberta, surveying land to build a camp for prisoners of war. He was sent overseas in 1944, unaware he was bound for Juno Beach.

Gaudet was also in the Battle of Caen, one of the largest battles after D-Day. He was tasked with building new bridges across rivers and canals in Belgium and Holland, so Allied forces could advance.

In all, his service earned him more than a dozen medals, the German Star and French Star among them.

害羞草研究所淚t was another job in the service. It was no special thing, but you done it day to day,害羞草研究所� Gaudet said.

害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 know what害羞草研究所檚 going to happen tomorrow, but you害羞草研究所檙e part of it.害羞草研究所�

Gaudet is one of the oldest 害羞草研究所� if not the oldest 害羞草研究所� veteran of the Whalley Legion害羞草研究所檚 roughly 700 members. But he doesn害羞草研究所檛 let that slow him down.

Ninety-six years young, Gaudet chuckles as he explains he still likes to go bowling, still drives and still lives independently, in his home which, yes, he also cleans himself.

害羞草研究所淢y wife passed away 15 years ago and I still live in the same house that we did. Still do all the chores by myself and enjoy life,害羞草研究所� he remarked. 害羞草研究所淭ry to keep as busy as possible.害羞草研究所�

You害羞草研究所檒l be able to see Gaudet this Sunday, at the Whalley Legion害羞草研究所檚 parade and service, which he attends faithfully.

害羞草研究所淚 usually lay a candle on the cenotaph they have for the veterans, different branches, the navy, the army, the air force,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 lay candles there.害羞草研究所�

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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