On Nov. 11, War Amps is encouraging everyone to remember the sacrifices made by veterans for our freedoms (Staff Photo/ Rachel May)

By Rachel May

Moment of Silence

War Amps invite Canadians to honour veterans

Nov 10, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Canadians everywhere are encouraged to commemorate Remembrance Day and honour those who fought for our country by taking a moment to reflect on our freedoms.

War Amps across Canada are encouraging everyone on Nov. 11 to take a moment to observe the holiday and remember what the veterans have done for Canadians.

Leanne Holtvogt, The War Amps of Canada regional representative for Saskatchewan, said that the War Amps program was created as soldiers were returning from World War I.

“The new amputees created the war amps to provide services to the amputees, providing peer support and resources to the new amputees adapting to their new reality.”

After World War II, veterans wanted to expand the program to allow veterans to have continued employment and access to programs.

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The War Amps didn’t want to stop with just helping veterans, they soon expanded their focus to help amputees across Canada. Then the CHAMP program was created.

CHAMP helps child amputees who were born with missing limbs or have lost them due to an accident or medical reasons. Anyone under the age of 18 who had an amputation can qualify for the program.

Holtvogt has been a part of the CHAMP program since she was an infant and as a double-arm amputee and personally understands the good that the program can do for children throughout Canada.

“They have provided me with financial support for recreational limbs, for attending seminars so we can interact with other amputees and can provide information to child amputees in attendance.”

Many provinces across Canada do not cover prosthetics under health care coverage. War Amps assists in the purchasing of prosthetics and raises awareness about services needed for those missing limbs.

To allow the program to continue operating and growing, the War Amps created the key tag service. The program is still running successfully to this day.

“It is the main way that War Amps fund all of their programs,” Holtvogt explained. “The War Amps doesn’t receive any funding from government grants or going door to door. One hundred per cent of the funding come from donations received through the key tag services.”

As we approach Remembrance Day, those who have benefited from CHAMP’s support are raising awareness about the difficulties that veterans face.

“The program allows us to educate the public about the war, what the veterans went through, the realities of war and kind of keep the memory of the veterans alive.”

In honour of those who fought for our freedoms, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic War Amps will lay wreaths where possible and observe a moment of silence in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Take time on Remembrance Day, take a moment to remember the sacrifice they made. That’s the message the War Amps and the child amputees would like to spread to the public.”

Visit War Amps on Facebook for more information about CHAMP and War Amps.

Visit NortheastNOW.com for more information about Remembrance Day services in the Northeast.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM