After a presentation to Kersley
elementary school’s Grade 4/5
class by Terry Nichols, co-founder
of Communities for Veterans
Foundation, on contemporary
veterans and the challenges they
face assimilating into civilian life
after retiring and the lingering
consequences of their military
service, students and their teacher
had a discussion on what they
had learned and how they could
help.
The presentation foundation
was the book Terry had written
called My Sheep Story and how
military personnel often return to
civilian life with post traumatic
stress disorder. The condition
is always diagnosed and life for
these veterans is difficult, but
with the help of their community,
their family and readily available
medical services these challenges
can be overcome. Too often
though, all these essential pieces
are not in place and the veteran
struggles.
In their discussions, the Grade
4/5 students thought writing letters
to veterans, expressing appreciation
and respect for their
service. The 22 students each
wrote a letter and 50 copies were
distributed to veterans during the
Christmas season, some travelled
as far away as Vancouver.
One of the letters was received
by a 20-year veteran of the US
Army who now lives in Delta,
B.C. who was so moved by the
sincerity and understanding expressed
by the student she agreed
to speak with the students about
her experience and what she continues
to experience as a result of
military service.
“The veteran was at a low point
when she unexpectedly read one
of my students letters and it has
triggered this profound need to
connect with the kids and share
her challenges and let them
know their actions, no matter
how small, make a difference,”
Sarah Guest, Kersley Grade 4/5
teacher said.
“She said she feels like she has
purpose for the first time in a
very long time.”
In anticipation of the Face-
Time event, the students worked
hard to come up with thoughtful
questions and the discussion was
a huge success. On Tuesday, four
veterans took time out of their
busy day to come to Kersley school
and speak with the students about
their own military service, answer
questions by the students and present
them with special We support
our groups pins.
Paul Nichols, contemporary
Canadian veteran and co-founder
of Communities for Veterans
Foundation (CVF), Jim Spencer,
Quesnel Legion president and
Canadian veteran, Fred Richardson
and Ron Rosell, also
Canadian veterans, encouraged
the students to ask any questions
they wanted and then answered
them with candour, honesty and
a bit of humour.
When asked what motivated
them to join the Armed Forces
each had a different reason.
Paul remarked his family has a
long history of military service
and he grew up around the military,
so after high school he saw
enlistment as an exciting career
option. After six years of service,
he was deployed to the Balkans
and he felt this was an opportunity
to help people in conflict.
“We have it so good in Canada,”
he said.
For Jim he was an active Air
Cadet and that provided some
military training, however possibly
the most influential reason
for enlisting was his many vacations
at his grandmother’s home
situated at the end of the military
runway in St. Hebert, Quebec
where he watched in fascination
as military jets took off and landed
so close.
“I served 25 years and learned a
trade and was very happy serving
in the military,” he said.
“But I initially joined because
I never finished high school and
my options were limited.”
Fred also came from a military
family and it was natural that he
joined the navy.
For Ron he came from working
in the oil fields and enlisted in
the navy as well.
“I had a good career and was
able to get a good education
thanks to the military,” he said.
“With skills and drive, you can
get anywhere you want.”
Jim added young Canadians
need to realize Canada is a free
country and the military service
of Canadians men and women
keeps us free.
Paul also said Canadians have
won the lottery in terms of freedom
and security and we have
an obligation to help those who
don’t enjoy those freedoms and
security. “The military is sort of
life global policing,” he said.
Jim went on to say that Canadians
have earned respect around
the world for our military service.
The students asked the veterans
what they wanted to be as
children.
For Jim he was hoping to become
a professional football
player, but failure to finish high
school put an end to that dream.
For Paul he claimed he always
wanted to be a cowboy and a
soldier. For Fred he dreamed
of becoming an orchardist but
joined the navy instead. And
Ron trained as a hockey player
but didn’t make the grade. The
students asked about hobbies,
their view on violent video games
and toy guns and an especially
poignant question about their
favourite quote.
Paul told a short story about a
town in Bosnia where the ravages
of war were particularly evident,
but writing, in Cyrillic (the written
language of Eastern Europe)
caught his eye.
When he was finally able to have it translated it meant
“who keeps the keepers.”
The question came up as to how people can help those
facing challenges and Paul spoke about a certain veteran
who has attended their Equine Assisted Mindfullness program
in 2016.
The vet wanted to talk so Paul put aside what he was doing,
sat down on a hay bale and spent the next hour texting back
and forth with him.
Ron summed up, for him, how best to help others face
challenges.
“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”
Each of the four veterans distributed the We support our
groups pins and thanked the students for their letters to
veterans.
As for what’s next for this very motivated Grade 4/5 class,
they are looking at options through CVF, and the Legion
to raise awareness of the challenges facing contemporary
veterans and finding ways to help a vet in need.
Two students spoke about how this experience had affected
them. Wyatt said after Terry Nichols presentation
he thought a lot about CVF and they are connecting with
Canadians and promoting an understanding of their service
and showing we care.
“In my letter I said how I understand the freedoms I have,
I can ride my bike and play without fear,” he said.
Brooklyn said at the conclusion of Terry’s presentation she
immediately understood this was a serious topic.
“We needed to help others, we’re all connected and need
to lend a hand to those in need,” she said.
“People who served (in the military) realized its a good
thing to help other people. I knew our letters were going to
mean something so I needed my letter to be meaningful. I
wanted them to know I think they are very brave.
After the students Facetimed with the veteran in Delta
who had received Brooklyn’s letter, she was amazed how
one letter could change someone else’s life.
“I was very thankful that my letter changed her life when she
had changed so many others’ lives with her military service.”