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On Remembrance Day, we honour the quiet valor of veterans like John Lajoie, a Kingsmere resident whose wartime narrative differs from the well-trodden battlefields of Europe. His tale is set in the perilous expanse of the North Atlantic, where, as a navy minesweeper during the Second World War, he and his fellow crew members hunted for and deactivated hidden sea mines to ensure the safety of passing vessels.

As Remembrance Day approaches, we take a moment to reflect on those who served in the world wars. Among them is Chad Bark, an army veteran with a distinctive story. Unlike the harrowing tales from the front lines which are often associated with war, Chad's experience was unique, and one shaped by his role in the Signal Corps.

As Remembrance Day approaches, we reflect on the stories of veterans like 103-year-old John Kuharski, whose memories of service are as vivid as they are heartrending. With World War II already underway John's journey began on May 8, 1940, as a young 20-year-old stepping into a dark, dangerous and uncertain world.

Each November, we commemorate Remembrance Day, honouring the brave souls who stood in defense of our freedoms. This year, we delve into a slightly different military journey of one such hero. Englishman William “Bill” Wornes — whose childhood was indelibly marked by the war — served with both the British and Canadian armies, bringing music and courage to various corners of the world.

"I can't believe that I could survive the horrors I went through.” This quote tragically sums up Rose Mandelbaum’s early life, before she came to Canada aged 21. Now in her mid 90s, Rose had been through it all before she arrived on in Halifax in 1947 and it’s hard for anyone who didn’t live through World War II to truly understand her viewpoint.

During his time in the military, Corporal Ron Smith knew every army song.

Born in 1934 in Toronto, ON, Ron joined the military when he was 23 years old. By the time he joined in 1947, WWII was over. However, there was always work to do.

Ron served primarily in the kitchens as a cook. He also worked in the transportation sector. He enjoyed his time in service, and stayed with the military for 25 years.

Ron spent most of his time in the military in Canada; however, he did spend a year on a peacekeeping mission in Palestine and the Middle East. He enjoyed the experience.

While in service, Ron met his wife. She was a server at a local restaurant in Barrie, ON. The couple were happily married for 47 years. After he retired from the military, Ron became a custodian for the school board in Barrie. He continued to love singing and was part of a tri band in Orillia for several years.

Today, Ron continues to sing and enjoy life at Owen Hill Care Community in Barrie, ON.

Anti-aircraft ammunition streaked by them, missing them by inches — until it didn’t.

During WWII, George Gonsalvez helped guard the Suez Canal against invasion. He was a certified craftsman. Before joining the war, he’d studied for four years to earn his degree as a mechanical and electrical engineer, and he worked on machinery during his 10-year career in the military.

Alfredo Cannataro was born in 1922 in south Italy. His parents rented and worked a farm, filled with livestock. Cows, sheep, and dogs were constant companions in his childhood, as were his four younger siblings.

As a mechanic in the Canadian Air Force, Carl Jory could usually be found working on a passenger or training plane. But every two or three months he’d be called to go on a test flight for a plane that another mechanic had worked on.