CREDIT: DAN TODD
A display in the lobby of the Veterans' Care Center at Parkwood Institute contains the uniforms of Naval Commander Ernest Thomas Jeffery (1913-1996) and of Harrison "Tony" Moore of the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, who served in the Korean War as well as a peacekeeper in Cyprus.

With Remembrance Day last week on Nov. 11, our thoughts have been focused more on those who have fought and died, as well as those who still fight to protect our country. But what many may not know is there are many veterans living right here in London and the surrounding areas. One of these veterans is George MacEchran.

George “Mac” MacEchran is a member of Branch 501 of the Canadian Legion in Lambeth, who was in the military from 1957 to 1985.

He served in Germany, Vietnam and Cyprus as well as areas in Canada and is currently in charge of honours and awards at the legion. He wants people to know that the legion is open to everyone.

“Nobody sits alone. You come there and you’re greeted, and everybody says hello, and you can sit down and enjoy yourself.”

The legion has a dart league and holds dances regularly.

Ethel Bladen is first vice president of membership as well as treasurer of Branch 501, and is a veteran of the British army who served as a peacekeeper in Cyprus in the ‘50s.

She was in Cyprus for a year and a half during the four-year conflict between Greece and Turkey. She feels that people should do more to support veterans as well as active members of the military, along with showing their support by wearing a poppy in November.

Bladen’s father was killed coming back from the war in Italy in May of 1945, and she has a number of other relatives that have been in the armed forces.

She also has vivid memories of being in bomb shelters as a child in England and therefore sympathizes with those who are currently caught in the middle of conflicts.

Petty Officer Second Class Roy Bross is the chief cook at HMCS Prevost Naval Reserve in London, and worries that people are forgetting what Remembrance Day is all about.

“I think it’s a very important thing for Canadians to realize all of the suffering that men and women over the years have done for Canada through all the wars to guarantee our freedom, not just here, but abroad also… the younger crowd seems to forget the meaning of Remembrance Day, and it’s everybody’s job to make sure it’s instilled in the culture.”

He added that he has enjoyed his time in the military, and that it’s a good career choice for younger people.

A part of the Saint Joseph’s Care family here in London is the Parkwood Institute, where Heather Tales works as the director of veteran care. Remembrance Day is an important time for her as well as the staff and the people they care for.

“Myself as the director, but any of my team that works in veterans, it’s a privilege to care for them and to serve our veterans because they’ve served us.”

She added that they should stay in our thoughts not just this month but year round.

For more information on how to get involved with the Royal Canadian Legion, visit legion.ca.