By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--May 2, 2022
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It was just as Canadian Military veteran ‘Neil from the Hill’ said it would be when Veterans 4 Freedom joined the Rolling Thunder Convoy in Ottawa over the weekend, hoping to “restore honour” to the National War Memorial, where veterans had been forcibly removed by Ottawa police during the truckers Freedom Convoy: “We’re gonna give that monument back its dignity.”
Cheered on by citizens, group members laid a wreath on the monument in honour of all who gave their lives for our freedom, as Neil pointed out, all the way “from the Boer War to Afghanistan.”“He says the event was needed after some of the veterans who joined the Freedom Convoy in solidarity with the truckers “to simply open channels of dialogue with the [Prime Minister], were beaten and arrested for simply standing up for freedom,” Smith told The Epoch Times in an interview. “This weekend was about laying a wreath at the National War Memorial where the police violently removed peaceful non-compliant veterans from.” “The authorities had also erected a fence around the memorial during the Freedom Convoy protest, which veterans later took down out of their own volition. “Our sacred ground was desecrated, the intention of OP DIGNITY is to restore honour to this symbol of absolute sacrifice and to let our fallen know that we haven’t forgotten them,” said a V4F press release for the April 30 event at the memorial.
“During the event, veterans and supporters gathered and before the laying of the wreath, veterans gave speeches, including retired military chaplain Harold Ristau, who led the group in prayer.In his inspirational speech Pastor Ristau gave goosebumps to believers and non-believers alike:
“I feel honoured to be here with this peaceful community who have taken the time to gather here in this beautiful patriotic effort,” Ristau said. “It takes a lot of courage in light of the partisan media and government narrative that continues to paint us even, sadly, as terrorists.” “The provincial mandates wouldn’t have been lifted had it not been for the truckers. “The Convoys that changed the world, and groups like this one here will be remembered in history books one day as heroic landmarks of Canadian history.”
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“While being part of the movement advocating freedom that has sprung up in recent months, V4F took a stance against displays of signs that included an expletive to criticize Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “There’s a lot of the ‘F Trudeau’ flags and shirts and that sort of thing. If you guys can maybe just put that away,” said V4F co-founder Andrew MacGillivray at the beginning of the April 30 event. “With Vets 4 Freedom […] we’re going to try and put an end to that sort of stuff because we want to be an example for young people, and having that on their flags and their shirts is not the way we’re going to be moving forward.” “The nascent organization has established a code of conduct for its members that includes elements of military ethos such as honour, integrity, and discipline, and also a commitment to non-violence. “V4F, which seeks to “restore fundamental freedoms for all Canadians,” is seeing rapid growth says Smith, with a “huge influx” of veterans adhering. “Smith says V4F was formed in concept after police removed the Freedom Convoy protest in February, with the organization being formally established in March. “I assure you our recruiting numbers are out-matching the [Canadian Armed Forces] right now,” Smith quipped, referring to the military’s struggle to enlist new recruits amid a culture overhaul.
“Smith says the group was processing over 500 applications before the Rolling Thunder event this past weekend. “The group is also associating with well-known voices in the freedom movement. “Military regiments typically have an honourary colonel and Smith says former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford will be filling that role for V4F. “Peckford is the last surviving architect of the country’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He attended the Freedom Convoy protest and is suing the federal government over its vaccine mandate for air, rail, and some marine vessels. “V4F has also teamed up with veteran James Topp who is currently walking from Vancouver to Ottawa to advocate for freedom and protest of the vaccine mandates. Topp is expected to arrive in Ottawa in late June and V4F is currently planning for this event.”
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