Standard traffic laws don’t exist in Afghanistan.
For Thunder Bay native Michael Ragotte, that meant paying close attention to the chaotic roadways to avoid collisions.
Stationed at Camp Morehead in the Kabul base cluster, Ragotte’s first tour of duty with the Canadian Armed Forces saw him as a convoy commander with a special operations joint task force.
The task force included Canadian, American and British military personnel along with civilian contractors. Ragotte led armoured taxi service for people within the city and convoy escorts for high-priority items like generators to basic supplies such as lumber.
But unpredictable traffic wasn’t the only threat on the roadways. Ragotte had to be aware of another fatal reality – improvised explosive devices.
The makeshift bombs could be in culverts, buried in the ground or inside vehicles.
“You are at a heightened sense of vigilance as opposed to being in Canada,” Ragotte said.
“You have very, very exciting times and then boring times,” he said of his time so far in the military.
“It’s never always go-go-go, but when it is that, it’s extremely exciting. To lead troops in combat scenarios, even in training, is one of the best feelings you can have as a leader and that’s why it’s so great to be in that role.”
Ragotte’s lifelong goal to be a part of the military was fulfilled in June 2010. Just out of high school, he chose infantry as his trade with the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Now 21 years old and a lieutenant, Ragotte recently returned from his first tour of duty in Afghanistan, back to the world of traffic laws and IED-free streets.
Ragotte is fortunate; he hasn’t lost any friends in the course of war.
Since 2002, 158 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan, including Thunder Bay’s Cpl. Anthony Boneca, Pte. Robert Costall and Pte. Josh Klukie.
The men and women who have died in Afghanistan will be remembered along with all the others who have sacrificed their lives in wars over the decades this Remembrance Day.
It’s a day that has always held meaning for Ragotte, but now that he’s been overseas, it means something more.
“It’s an emotional time for all soldiers, not just for those that have been to theatre but any soldier in the Canadian forces because they made the ultimate sacrifice and you sort of understand how much of a sacrifice that is,” he said.
Ragotte and his unit are attending services at Mount McKay this Remembrance Day and said he always looks forward to speaking with veterans who came before him after the day’s ceremony.
“They want to tell their story too, and it’s really great to have the younger generation and the older generation kind of meet and swap stories,” he said.
For Second World War navy veteran Roy Lamore, Remembrance Day means “a hell of a lot.”
Lamore, also the past president of the Royal Canadian Legion Port Arthur Branch 5, attends the Remembrance Day service in Waverley Park every year.
He likes to see the park full every Nov. 11 and that’s starting to become a reality.
“The number of people who are starting to really show up – they’re getting the idea, the feeling. They’re getting the real merit of Remembrance Day,” he said.
Seeing the federal government cut services like removing several Veterans Affairs offices across Canada, including the Thunder Bay location, is disheartening for Lamore as well as waning membership in legions.
That’s why it’s important for him to speak with various organizations about Remembrance Day.
He gets sent to schools and senior homes in the weeks leading up to Nov. 11.
“I think we still, as long as we’re able to, have to get out to the people and tell them just what Remembrance Day is all about. We’ve got to go to the schools, the churches, so they understand it’s not just some day of remembrance. It’s a day to remember the rest of your life,” he said.
“We do it because we’ve still got heart and we’ve still got hope.”
Lamore is accompanied on these visits by Branch 5’s first vice-president Cory Pollock.
Pollock spent time in the naval reserves in the 1970s during the Cold War.
He travelled the world on different ships and what he will always remember is what the Canadian uniform means in other countries.
In the mid-1970s, he was in the Netherlands celebrating the country’s Liberation Day.
“After the service, we were walking down this little street and all these old people were wearing black and they looked at us and started crying,” Pollock said.
He asked his friend what was happening and if they had offended anyone.
What he didn’t know was that Liberation Day is celebrated every May 5 and recognizes the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany in the Netherlands.
This was accomplished largely by Canadian troops.
“These people saw the Canadian uniform that we were wearing and they just started crying. To me, that still gives me the chills,” Pollock said.
On Remembrance Day, Pollock is pleased to see the amount of young people that attend services, but he often feels that people forget the sacrifices made to make Canada the free country it is today.
Memorial Avenue was named so because it was once lined with trees planted for fallen soldiers.
“They’re gone now,” Pollock said, adding the legion exists to always remind people what veterans have done and the sacrifices still being made.
“First World War veterans, Second World War veterans, Korean War veterans, Cold War veterans, Afghanistan veterans – there’s always going to be veterans,” he said.
On Monday, Nov. 11, there will be Remembrance Day ceremonies across the city, including services at Waverley Park, Fort William Gardens and the Mount McKay lookout.
Ragotte can recall a large crowd out last year and said it feels amazing to see so many Thunder Bay residents show their support by attending Remembrance Day services.
“The Canadian people, regardless of whether they support or do not support the war in Afghanistan, they’re very supportive of soldiers. They may not agree with the war, but they have your back 100 per cent,” he said.
“I know in many countries around the world, you wouldn’t have that support.”
