Connected to your community
COMMUNITY
Veterans inspire military’s next generation Erin McCracken erin.mccracken@metroland.com
Community - Moments after meeting for the first time, retired sergeant Wally Turini and Warrant Officer Eric Gagnon immediately find common ground. “What part of Montreal are you from?” Gagnon asks the 96-year-old Second World War veteran. They have much more in common than sharing the same home town. The medals adorning each of their chests are evidence of this. They were honoured Tuesday along with about 100 veterans, from the Second World War and Korean
War up to currently serving members, at an annual luncheon at Kanata branch 638 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tuesday, April 15. Turini’s medals represent his time overseas blasting a Howitzer gun at German soldiers to force them out of Italy, from 1940 to 1945. He celebrated his 20th birthday in England just after the war broke out. “We were all young and tough, but they killed a lot of us,” recalls Turini, a Nepean resident who says he will never forget the sound of shrapnel narrowly missing him. “When a shell explodes, shrapnel flies all over. It whistled by my ear. But we did the same to (enemy
soldiers).” Gagnon’s rack of medals is from more recent conflicts, including five deployments to Afghanistan, and missions to Haiti, the Central African Republic, Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia. Much of his intelligence work overseas is secret. Turini doesn’t know it, but Gagnon was not only inspired by veterans like him to recently become a legion branch member, but also in joining the military 24 years ago. “Maybe part of the reason I joined (the military) was seeing the veterans at parades,” says Gagnon, who attended the luncheon with personnel from the Canadian Forces Electronic
Warfare Centre at Shirley’s Bay. “They really forged the freedoms we have today.” Today, the Kanata resident feels a sense of responsibility in bolstering the legion’s membership. Many of the branch’s members are in their 70s. “I want to carry on the tradition,” says Gagnon. “Everyone is getting older.” Despite dedicating much of his life to the military, Gagnon, 46, reluctantly considers him-
self a veteran like Turini, and the many other veterans who came to the luncheon from their homes in Arnprior, Carleton Place and across Ottawa, including the Pearly and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre. Though he appreciates being honoured at the special meal, Gagnon says it’s difficult to see himself in the same light as the veterans who came before him. “But I guess I am (a veteran) after the 24 years I’ve been do-
ing it,” he says. The luncheon helps forge strong connections between currently serving military personnel and their predecessors, and ensures their experiences from their years in service won’t be forgotten, says John Cher, Kanata legion branch president. “What they’re doing today is carrying on what these veterans started years and years and years ago,” he says.
✃
RECEIVE 1 MONTH FREE
R0012652942-0417
✃
CUT THIS AD OUT, BRING IT IN
ERIN MCCRACKEN/METROLAND
Warrant Officer Eric Gagnon, left, and retired sergeant Wally Turini discover they share the common bonds of the same hometown and years of dedicated service. About 100 veterans were honoured at an annual luncheon April 15 at Branch 638 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
John O’Neill Sales Representative
MLS#894094 $136,500
2328 Donald B. Munro Dr., Kinburn MLS#904024
$265,000
25 Allan Bond Crt., Arnprior MLS#905873 $284,000
2937 Bellamy Rd., White Lake MLS#904582
$234,900
3060 Kinburn Side Rd., Kinburn MLS#890817
$285,000
4 Diamond Springs St., Arnprior MLS#905881
MLS#904770
$244,900
927 Whippoorwill Lane., Clayton MLS#895165
$449,900
Lots of Lots from 2 acres to 72 acres
$397,000
Please visit my website www.joneill.ca to view all my listings 86 West Carleton Review EMC - Thursday, April 24, 2014
RE/MAX METRO-CITY John Roberts Broker REALTY LTD., brokerage 613- 839-1308 or 613-832-0902 2255 Carling Avenue Ottawa, ON K2B 7Z5 www.johnwroberts.com
OPEN HOUSE SUN. APR.27TH 2-4PM
46 Alston St., White Lake
170 Guelph Private #202 Brand new! Gorgeous 1159 sq. ft., 2 bedrm condo apartment on the 2nd floor of this luxurious low-rise building complete with den, open concept layout, balcony, hardwood & tile floors, gourmet kitchen with granite counters, ensuite bath, 6 appliances, central air & underground parking! $344,900
New Price! 27 Conniston Ave., Crystal Beach Lovingly cared for 3 bedrm bungalow, only second owner, 65’ x 100’ lot, desirable neighbour close to Ottawa River, Andrew Haydon Park, Nortel Campus & Hwy 417, roof, soffits, fascia & eavestroughing, furnace & central air less than 10 yrs old, deck & carport. Includes 5 appliances! $349,900
Waterfront! 194 Moorhead Drive, Willola Beach near Fitzroy Experience breathtaking sunsets here! Extra deep 60’ x 258’ lot, pretty 2 bedrm place, low maintenance exterior, large 9’ x 30’ screened-in porch looks out to the Ottawa River, open concept living rm & kitchen, fireplace, heat, hydro, phone, well & septic. Only 35 minutes to Kanata or Stittsville! $224,900
Waterfront! 4928 Opeongo Rd., Crown Point Rustic & inviting all year round bungalow on the Ottawa River complete with breaktaking views of the Gatineau Hills, huge 100’ x 186’ lot, 2 bedrms, f.a. oil heat, deck, sloped lot down to waterfront and sandy beach, dead end street only 25 minutes to Kanata! $299,900
LOTS FOR SALE! Bayview Drive, Constance Bay 70’ x 125’ residential lot across from the Ottawa River $49,900 Old Maple Lane, Dunrobin Shores 133’ x 151’ residential lot close to Ottawa River & Kanata $64,900 R0012649147.0417
68 Russett Dr., Arnprior
R0352275076
BUS: 613-270-8200 RES: 613-832-2503 joneill@royallepage.ca
Loggers Way, Vydon Village 2 acre estate lots available with construction bonus. $79,900 Rock Forest Road, Dunrobin Shores treed 2 acre lot near Ottawa River access $104,900
SOLD! 262 Fireside Drive, Constance Bay Incredible spot for a family, spacious 4 bedrm home, 1 acre lot close to beach, forest & community centre, above ground pool, 2 car attached garage and oversized 1 car detached garage, many updates to the home and new natural gas furnace installed 2014! List price $409,900
Visit www.johnwroberts.com to see more pictures and full details of all my listings!!