Remembering young vets

Photo: UBC Okanagan

Lieut.-Col. Mike McGinty, centre, salutes at UBC Okanagan's 2016 Remembrance Day service.

While many picture the elderly Second World War veteran when they think of Remembrance Day, a B.C. Dragoons commanding officer is encouraging Canadians to remember younger veterans on Saturday as well.

Mike McGinty, who retired from the British Army in 2014 before joining the Dragoons in the Okanagan, says Canada has thousands of veterans who have served in more recent conflicts.

“There are no veterans left from World War 1 and we have very few left from the Second World War,” McGinty said. “There are a lot of veterans in Canada, thousands of them. These are the men and woman who served in Bosnia, Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and other places.”

McGinty will be speaking at UBC Okanagan's Remembrance Day ceremony Saturday.

“Remembrance Day is significant to me because I’ve been to 33 funerals,” he said. “These are people who voluntarily gave themselves and I truly believe it’s worth us giving up a few hours one day a year to recognize and reflect on their sacrifice.”