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鈥檚 hand into theirs.

鈥淲hat an honour,鈥� said Priya Jeyasegar as she shook Gaudet鈥檚 hand. 鈥淪eeing a veteran like yourself, it gives me that peace of mind, and hope.鈥�

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鈥檚 civil war.

鈥淐anada is that safe haven,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd you guys fought for it. Thank you. That means a lot.鈥�

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鈥檚 hand.

鈥淭hank you so much for your service,鈥� said Tristan Tsang, bowing his head ever so slightly. 鈥淭hank you so much for your sacrifice.鈥�

See also:

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鈥檚 City Centre area with a parade that some 200 people attended.

鈥淭hey closed traffic in town here,鈥� Gaudet modestly recalled. 鈥淭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.

鈥淎 big day.鈥�

Asked what Remembrance Day means to him, Gaudet paused.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a good question,鈥� he replied, taking another moment.

鈥淚 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,鈥� Gaudet said.

鈥淚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鈥檚 back in 鈥�47, 鈥�48. Still, every day, I think about how hard it was to get Nov. 11 to be acknowledged by everybody.鈥�

What made it so challenging?

鈥淭he problem with Nov. 11, and the war, it was never taught to the kids at school,鈥� Gaudet explained. 鈥淚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.鈥�

But he鈥檚 proud to have been part of the effort to have the holiday, now, a part of nation鈥檚 fabric.

鈥淚 get calls quite often to go speak at school around Nov. 11,鈥� said Gaudet. 鈥淭heir questions knock me down, it鈥檚 like a sponge, all those kids want to know more and more.鈥�

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.

鈥淚t was another job in the service. It was no special thing, but you done it day to day,鈥� Gaudet said.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen tomorrow, but you鈥檙e part of it.鈥�

Gaudet is one of the oldest 鈥� if not the oldest 鈥� veteran of the Whalley Legion鈥檚 roughly 700 members. But he doesn鈥檛 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.

鈥淢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,鈥� he remarked. 鈥淭ry to keep as busy as possible.鈥�

You鈥檒l be able to see Gaudet this Sunday, at the Whalley Legion鈥檚 parade and service, which he attends faithfully.

鈥淚 usually lay a candle on the cenotaph they have for the veterans, different branches, the navy, the army, the air force,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 lay candles there.鈥�

amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Amy on