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A tradition that began in the First World War is being continued in 2019 by a number of groups in Regina.
On Thursday, the Provincial Capital Commission joined the Regina Stitchery Guild, the Royal Canadian Legion and the UnderstandUs mental health initiative to explain the idea of veteran care packages.
So far, 20 packages have been assembled. They’re to be given to the Legion, which will distribute them to veterans.
“Anything that goes out to support our veterans is a great deal in my mind,” retired major Brad Hrycyna said during a media event at Government House.
“They’re aging now — the Second World War veterans and the Korean (War) veterans — so it’s nice for them to see that they’re still remembered and appreciated for what they’ve done.”
Canadians have sent care packages to soldiers since the First World War.
Handing out the kits in 2019 also helps mark an anniversary; it has been 75 years since the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.
The care packages comprise a letter of thanks and encouragement, a hand-crafted item such as a scarf or a cross-stitch ornament, an UnderstandUs ball cap as well as the information cards “How to Help Yourself” and “How to Help Others.”
The mental health aspect is a key portion of the program.
“We’re doing a better job now than we used to,” said Greg Lawrence, the MLA for Moose Jaw-Wakamow and provincial military liaison.
“Times have certainly changed where we all want to make sure that our soldiers and our veterans have the support that they need when they come home.”
Marj Gavigan, the president of the Regina Stitchery Guild, said about half of the guild’s 43 members knitted scarves, socks and toques or cross-stitched fridge magnets and bookmarks for the project.
The group produced more than 40 items, but since only 20 packages were assembled, each kit got more than one hand-crafted item. There already are plans to expand the output next year.
“We think we can do more than (40),” Gavigan said. “We think we can kind of make this a bit of a challenge for our guild members to sort of say, ‘Come up with something. Come up with a new design that means Canada or means Saskatchewan for our veterans.’ ”
Hrycyna, who during his service trained soldiers to fight in Afghanistan, said the packages represent an important thing to veterans.
They’re an acknowledgement that the veterans’ service was appreciated.
“I know that prior to 9/11, the armed forces were in great part taken for granted,” Hrycyna said. “It wasn’t until we were back into the war on terror that what soldiers did and their sacrifices truly came back to being recognized again.
“I know that for myself, I was serving at that time, and the first time that I had a young fellow come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for your service,’ meant a great deal to me.”
— With files from 980 CJME’s Evan Radford