Jacques De Winter knew exactly who he wanted to serve with when he decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces.
It was the Queen's Own Rifles regiment, and for good reason.
"I was born in Belgium and we suffered a lot during the Second World War," said De Winter
"It was this regiment right here," he says, pointing to a regimental pin on his jacket, "that liberated my town and when we moved to Canada I knew this is who I wanted to serve with."
De Winter joined the Canadian Armed Forces, serving with peacekeeping forces in Cyprus.
He joined 96-year-old World War II veteran Earl Setter and Royal Canadian Navy veteran Michael Bladon at the Thank a Veteran event Sunday at McCrae House, which allows the public to meet and interact with veterans on an informal basis.
Setter joined the artillery in 1943, landing at Normandy during D-Day and moving across Europe, helping liberate several countries.
His role was in forward communications, relaying information back to the guns, directing their fire for better accuracy and effectiveness.
Setter was wounded while resting behind the front line, a German artillery shell hitting the rear position and sending shrapnel into his leg.
"I still have some shrapnel in there," said Setter.
Bladon joined the navy to learn a trade.
"My dad said I could see the world, and I did," said Bladon, whose role in the Korean conflict included supplying outlaying islands, supporting the Korean navy and other less savoury roles aboard the destroyer HMCS Iroquois.
"The worst thing was pushing the bodies out of the water," he says.
A young woman stopped by Sunday to ask about the armed forces, saying she was considering signing up.
"It certainly changes you," Setter told her.
He and the other men said military service teaches you many things, including discipline and how to work with others.
All three supported countries that require mandatory military service.
"It's a good life for a lot of people," Bladon said. "Some like it, some don't."
"A lot of young people today are lacking, they don't have a purpose," Setter said.
"I sure as heck was a different person after the military," he said.
Remembrance Day activities continue in Guelph this week, including the regular 9 a.m. ceremony at McCrae House on Nov. 11, the main ceremony at the Sleeman Centre at 10:10 a.m. and a ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in the veterans section beginning at 10:30 a.m.
