Island peacekeepers honoured in Charlottetown Remembrance Day ceremony

Today, we say thank you. That was the theme of the Remembrance Day ceremony in Charlottetown, as people gathered to hear the story of an island peacekeeper serving in former Yugoslavia. When that country broke apart in 1991, it quickly led to civil war. Canada responded by sending peacekeepers. Twenty members of the Prince Edward Island Regiment raised their hands to volunteer, and one of those was Lieutenant Alan Traynor. Traynor and other Canadians risked their lives to shelter people from attacks. He was one of nearly 40,000 Canadians who served in the peacekeeping missions in former Yugoslavia. Many were injured. 23 were killed. When Traynor and other peacekeepers returned back to Canada, many didn't get a welcome home or a thank you. Charlottetown Service did just that. We say thank you to Lieutenant Trainer who continued to serve as a reservist and eventually became Lieutenant Colonel Trainer and served as the commanding officer of the Prince Edward Island Regiment where he served in uniform at the PEIR for more than 35 years. Trainer was at the ceremony and says he was humbled and that these services are vital for veterans We've got to continue to do that as a country every year, year in, year out. So it's important. It's important. The service finished with Hamilton urging Islanders to spend time with veterans and to thank them for their service and sacrifice, not just on Remembrance Day, but all year round. Cody McKay, CBC News, Charlottetown.