A young veteran who has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an Owen Sound mother who lost her son in combat were among those who spoke at the Owen Sound legion Wednesday during remembrance week.
They were taking part in a presentation called A Soldier’s Letter, created by sisters Jana and Linsey Lewis and The Fellowship of Ravens.
The evening featured poems read by legion members, as well as Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP and veteran Alex Ruff, veteran Cameron Bruce, Owen Sound City Councillor Marion Koepke, veteran David Ward, and Silver Cross Mother Carol Mitchell among other speakers.
37 year old David Ward, who served 19 years in the Canadian Armed Forces a reservist with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada and with the regular force in the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry played “Johnny,” in the feature Soldier’s Letter poem.
Ward also shared the story of his real-life struggle with PTSD which caused him to attempt suicide.
“I loaded my Glock 9mm, and I put it to my face and I pulled the trigger, and I shot myself in the face. Thank God, the good Lord was with me, so I can be here with you today.” Ward said.
He continued, “This is not going away. This is a topic that we need to continue to talk about and share and express so that we can make sure that our service members get the proper treatment and help that they need so that they can go home, or continue service and enjoy life. I assure you today, I am very thankful to be alive.”
Ward is a part of the veteran-owned and operated company Arrowhead Coffee based out of St. Catharines. Arrowhead Coffee is associated with a number of veteran’s initiatives here in Canada. Ward also took part in the march of the entire Bruce Trail conducted by Joey Dimarco and Lino Di Julio called the Ruck to Remember, with Ward driving the safety vehicle and doing the administration this past summer. The Ruck raised money to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness.
Ward says his mission with Arrowhead Coffee, which is owned by fellow veteran Leen Bolle, is to continue to grow and to continue to contribute to veterans and first responders, as well as charities and to help out in the community, noting, “There are so many times where we get the phone call and we hear some bad news about someone who potentially attempted suicide, or did, and we’re doing our best to try to be involved so that we can help in some way, in come capacity.”
Also speaking Wednesday night, was Silver Cross Mother Carol Mitchell, who shared her story of the loss of her son Corporal Robert Thomas James Mitchell of Owen Sound.
He was killed in an ambush on October 3rd, 2006 in Afghanistan, while serving as a member of the The Royal Canadian Dragoons. He was 32 years old, and was a husband and a father.
His mother Carol Mitchell talked about her son’s choice to serve, and that he believed in the work he was doing, telling her exactly that before he left on that last deployment. She shared her experience of getting a call from her daughter-in-law, Leanne, who, through sobs, told Carol her son had died. Carol also shared her family’s experience of the ramp ceremony that was held not just for her son that day, but for other soldiers as well. Robert Thomas James Mitchell is buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, but is also memorialized on his brother’s headstone in Owen Sound. In 2014, the a park in Owen Sound was named for him as Cpl. Robert T. James Mitchell Park. It can be found on 2nd Street ‘A’ West near the Greenwood Cemetery.
In addition to Ward and Mitchell’s stories were poems and video presentations voiced by well known Canadians including William Shatner and even Alex Trebek. They included the stories of the Battle of Vimy ridge, D-Day, the Dieppe Raid, the Liberation of the Netherlands, the stories of Indigenous war heroes, the Battle of the Atlantic and others.
Producer, Director, co-author and Owen Sound Legion Public Relations Officer Jana Lewis recently told Bayshore Broadcasting News, A Soldier’s Letter was created by herself and her sister, “To honour our veterans, remember those that served and assist those battling PTSD.”
Proceeds from the event will go to the Royal Canadian Legion.
