小蓝视频

Wendy Kimber has been chosen as the 2010 War Mother for the Weyburn branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and is hoping her young age will help bring realization to the younger generation of Weyburn and area that it is vitally important and relevant today to pay tribute to the men and women serving Canada in the armed forces this Remembrance Day.

One of the youngest women ever chosen for this honourary position, Wendy will be laying a wreath at the city's cenotaph on Thursday, Nov. 11 on behalf of all war mothers, and will be accompanied by her 24-year-old son Evan, who is currently serving in Edmonton with the Canadian Armed Forces. Wendy, along with husband Al, also have two daughters, Christie, who graduated last year, and Alyssa, currently a student at the Weyburn Comp.

She will also be on stage for the Remembrance Day service, which is held indoors in the Legion Hall after the wreath-laying 小蓝视频, and a tea will be held in the War Mother's honour following the service.

Many students at the Weyburn Comprehensive School heard Evan speak one year ago, as he related his experiences with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry when he was deployed in war-torn Afghanistan in 2008.

With this in mind, Wendy said she was "very honoured" to be asked by the Legion to be the War Mother for 2010.

"It was a nice surprise I was definitely surprised by their request," she said. "I'm definitely proud to do it. I'm very glad they asked me."

One of the reasons she is glad to serve in the honourary role is that she can help reach the younger generations.

"I think asking someone of my age brings it closer to home for young people. They can see people not much older than them serving in the Armed Forces. I think it's important for the younger generation to realize that," said Wendy, pointing out that for all intents and purposes, Canada is at war with their forces in Afghanistan, until Canada returns to its more customary role of peacekeeper in 2011.

"Our young people aren't just peacekeeping at this point; they're putting their lives on the line. They're fighting for what we have here, for the freedoms we have, and to have the rights we have and keep terrorism away from the front door. It's important to thank them and recognize them for that," said Wendy.

Evan is currently serving with 1st Battalion Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry "C" Company, as he has since June of 2007, and is awaiting word on a transfer to occupational training, in which he will enrol in either marine engineer mechanics or firefighting.

When Evan told his family about enlisting in the Armed Forces, he had a definite purpose in taking on military service.

"He said he wanted to help people. He felt it was something he wanted to do in order for children and women to have an education and to have the same rights we have," said Wendy. "His biggest thing was to help other people."

When he called one day to inform his family that he would be deployed to Afghanistan, it was unexpected because it came a lot sooner than they thought it might.

"It was kind of a shock when he called; he found out about six weeks before he left," she said, admitting it was stressful as parents to realize he was heading into a combat zone that was quite dangerous.

"It was quite scary, and at the same time it was something he wanted to do. All parents want their children to dream big and see their dreams come true; I realized you have to let them go at some point. Thankfully, he came home safely, and he had a good experience. He felt his time over there was worthwhile, and he wasn't too affected by it physically or psychologically," said Wendy.

Now, as he looks at taking occupational training, he is considering transferring over into the Navy side of the Forces, plus he will get an education while continuing to serve with the Forces.

As far as having forces serving in Afghanistan, Wendy said Canada has largely finished what she set out to do in helping and training their military and police to help their country be more independent. "I'm not disappointed we're going back to a peacekeeping role," she added.

Wendy was happy to see Evan come to speak at the Comp last year, because this was a way for the up and coming generation to see a young person from Weyburn, a graduate of the Comp, who had made the decision to serve his country and to go overseas to fight for what he believed in. This was the personal experience of someone of this generation, making the importance of recognizing their efforts all the more relevant, and perhaps through this, young people can understand better the sacrifices made in the First and Second World Wars and in the Korean War.

"To take a day out of your year and thank them and recognize what they are doing, I don't think is too much to ask. It's important for people to realize it's still going on now, and we need these people to fight for us. It makes it more real. We will always need these people, and it's a privilege to pay tribute to them," said Wendy.

Weyburn's Remembrance Day ceremonies will begin with the parade to the cenotaph around 10:30 a.m., the laying of the wreaths by the War Mother and other dignitaries and representatives of groups and organizations, two minutes of silence at the stroke of 11 a.m., followed by the service to be held indoors in the Legion Hall.