Sooke Legion President Reflects on Remembrance Day Significance

Remembrance Day on November 11 holds profound significance for many, including veteran and Sooke Legion President Arthur Davies. This national holiday serves as an opportunity for Canadians to honour the sacrifices made by veterans that have shaped the country. “What it says for me is how I appreciate the here and now and the country that we live in,” Davies stated. He emphasized that the rights and freedoms Canadians enjoy today are directly linked to historical sacrifices.

Davies began his military career in 1966, shortly after graduating high school in Fort William, Ontario. At just 18 years old, he found himself in a pivotal role during the Cold War, stationed along the Rhine River in Germany. There, he was part of a unit aimed at deterring a potential Soviet invasion. “The Soviet Union was not too far away, so we trained at least three months a year on exercises, being ready to deploy quickly,” he explained.

His service in Europe lasted for three years before he was transferred to the Work Point Barracks in Victoria. Davies later served as a United Nations peacekeeper in Cyprus, where he worked to prevent conflict between Turkish and Greek forces. “They’d have little skirmishes here and there, and you’re there to report on it or to be…a deterrent between the two of them,” he said, reflecting on his responsibilities.

Another significant chapter in Davies’ military career took him to the north of Norway, where he prepared for rapid deployment of Canadian troops in the event of a Soviet attack. “It was all to do with the Cold War,” he noted, recalling the harsh conditions he faced 100 miles above the Arctic Circle.

After a decade in the army, Davies transitioned to a civilian position at the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot in Victoria, where he spent the next 40 years. “I just wanted to do something more technical and get a trade,” he remarked. This decision allowed him to focus on his family and community life, ultimately leading him to settle in Sooke.

Davies emphasized that Remembrance Day is not about glorifying war but about remembering the sacrifices made during the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War. “A lot of people misconstrue what we’re doing…to glorify war, but Remembrance Day is to remember the sacrifice for our ideals of our way of life,” he explained.

To honour these sacrifices, the community is invited to participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11, 2023. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Sooke’s Evergreen Plaza, followed by a march to the cenotaph for a formal ceremony starting at 10:50 a.m.. Following the ceremony, attendees are welcome to visit the Sooke Legion, where adults can enjoy chili, chowder, and sandwiches, while youth will be served hot dogs and hot chocolate.

The Sooke Legion, founded in 1926, has a longstanding history of supporting veterans and the local community. The organization is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, further solidifying its commitment to honouring those who have served.