Christopher Carver doesn’t feel like a veteran.
The 25-year-old corporal in the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment spent six months in Afghanistan in 2008.
“Even though I am classified as a veteran I think of it more as honouring veterans of world war one and two,” Carver said Saturday morning.
He credits his experience over there with changing his life.
“I was a lot more understanding and empathic in general I just had a clearer set of views coming back,” Carver said.
Same with Cpl. Niall Beatty’s life also changed during his time in Afghanistan. He got back in March with a whole new perspective. Even something as simple as a hot shower, taken for granted back home, was savoured on his tour.
“I think I came home a lot smarter it just opened me up made me appreciate things a lot more,” Beatty said.
The corporals were part of an open house at the Thunder Bay Armoury Saturday. The Lake Superior Scottish regiment had displays on everything from weapons to vehicles to show the public what it’s all about. The open house was a part of Veteran’s Week leading up to ceremonies on Nov. 11.
Cpt. George Romick said it’s important to remember those who have given their lives for their country, from the First World War to Afghanistan. Closer to home, it’s also important to remember people like Cpl. Anthony Boneca, a 21-year-old Thunder Bay soldier who died in Afghanistan in 2006.
“That really is a hard thing for me,” Romick said.
The open house was also a chance to showcase a newly proposed small arms range for the region near Upsala. Western range and training management officer Maj. Phil Quaghebeur said local recruits have to train every year on firearms. And they’ve been having to travel to either Minnesota or Manitoba to do it.
“If they don’t’ have a range to shoot on it’s really hard for them to train and be effective soldiers,” he said.
The forces are currently in the environmental assessment phase of the proposal. If all goes well, Quaghebeur said construction could start as early as 2014.
