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Sam Crowshaw, a veteran and longtime resident of Grande Prairie, joined the Navy in 1953 at the age of 18. Crowshaw is now 86 years old and has served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 24 years.
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Crowshaw expressed that his original intentions when he joined the army was to fight in Korea, adding that the war in Korea was over when the training ended. After that, Crowshaw served five years in the Royal Canadian Navy. Crowshaw added that during that time, he met a woman and married her. Being away for more than nine months out of the year didn’t turn out to be attractive to a married man, so Crowshaw made the switch to join the Air Force.
Since Crowshaw had been doing radar in the navy, it was easy for him to transition to radar in the Air Force. During that time serving with the radar system, he worked to defend Canada. After being transferred between different bases in Canada, Crowshaw was stationed in France for four years with NATO.
Later, Crowshaw moved to Grande Prairie to work as a radar technician at a base that had been located near Saskatoon Mountain, where after a while he retired and started his own business. After his retirement, Crowshaw joined the Army and Navy Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) and has been a member ever since.
When asked why the work ANAVETS does is important, Crowshaw said, “Veterans always need help and our main goal is to support veterans.”
Over the years, Crowshaw has held various positions in the ANAVETS organization, including local unit president and provincial command president. Crowshaw added that ANAVETS lost its building last year, making it increasingly difficult to find places to hold meetings and other activities. He added that despite the loss of his building, his commitment to remembering and supporting veterans remains.
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“We remain very dedicated to that,” Crowshaw said.
When asked why Remembrance Day is an important day that most should follow, Crowshaw said: “These veterans gave their all for us. To have the life that we have and the freedoms that we have, they must be remembered. “
Crowshaw agreed that through the recognition of Remembrance Day and organizations like ANAVETS and the Legion, this is the only way to achieve not only the remembrance of those who sacrificed so much, but also the support that veterans need.
Crowshaw further added that ANAVETS has seen a decrease in membership and is always looking to increase its membership. He expressed that it has been more difficult to inspire interest in the younger generation to join ANAVETS, and that the current demographic that participates in ANAVETS is aging. Crowshaw encourages anyone interested in joining ANAVETS and becoming a member to contact the organization at 780-532-2623.
ANAVETS held their annual Remembrance Day celebration this morning at the cenotaph located in Jubilee Park. Parade participants gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church at 10:30 a.m. and the Parade Marshall had organized the walk for 100 th street to the cenotaph where the Remembrance Day ceremony took place. After the program was completed, the Parade Marshal marched the parade back to Trinity Lutheran Church, where the parade was then dismissed. ANAVETS was excited to have a piper leading the parade this year after the flags.) Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Air Cadet Band was unable to participate, but the Grande Prairie Boys choir was able to perform for the first time.
Due to indoor Alberta Health Services restrictions, ANAVETS was unable to host a luncheon or open house after the ceremony.
Reference-www.dailyheraldtribune.com