Taking time to remember Vimy Ridge and Canadians who served the country is very dear to Bob Manuel.
“The price that was paid by our young Canadians at Vimy Ridge, what it cost…our grandfathers, our kids, future generations, we can’t keep doing this,” said Manuel, a Canadian Forces Veteran.
As Elliot Lake honoured Vimy Ridge on Sunday, the 82-year-old was the master of ceremonies; continuing his years of work in honour of veterans.
In the mid 1990's, Manuel made a presentation at a Northern Ontario school and students asked him what happened during the battle.
“A school assembly in North Bay kinda fueled the fire for my father, to wonder why it never really got the recognition that it did. The letter writing campaign started from that day forward, " said Terry Manuel, Bob’s son.
Manuel asked hundreds of people to write letters asking the government to make the anniversary of Vimy Ridge a national day of remembrance. The act was passed in 2003.
“Bob's a veteran from the Korean War, he served from 1951 to 1952, and his efforts to bring Vimy to the attention of the Canadian public have just been stellar,” said Lieutenant General Christine Whitecross, Canadian Armed Forces.
Manuel lobbied the government to have Highway 108, leading in and out of Elliot Lake, also called Vimy Ridge highway.
“My father is a very patriotic man, he is very old school in that sense, he wanted the younger generation to know the importance of it,” said Terry Manuel.
On this, the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge, we asked Manuel if he had a message for people.
“Peace, peace, no more war. No more wars,” he said.
During the ceremony Manuel was honoured; he was presented with a Canadian flag flown at Vimy Ridge.
