On the eve of his centennial, Gaston Pettigrew was greeted with applause as he walked into the eating corridor of the Maison Paul-Triquet dwelling in Quebec Metropolis.
Carrying his Royal Canadian Navy uniform, he beamed as he sat amongst household, residents and workers, with a wood field stuffed to the brim with birthday playing cards earlier than him.
The nicely needs got here in from around the globe after a neighborhood group devoted to army historical past posted a particular request for the WWII veteran.
Pettigrew needed 100 playing cards in time for his a centesimal birthday on April 11. In only a matter of weeks, he obtained greater than 1,700.
Pettigrew was simply 18 years outdated when he enlisted in April 1943. He quickly grew to become a seaman on HMS Ettrick, a ship that served as a convoy escort within the Battle of the Atlantic.
He made 11 crossings between North America and Europe, Though his ship was by no means attacked throughout these missions, Pettigrew recollects robust situations aboard the vessel, which carried round 100 sailors.
Jordan Proust initially posted Pettigrew’s story and birthday want on his Passionmilitaria Fb web page — which garnered tons of of likes and reactions from around the globe.
On Thursday, the native well being authority stated Pettigrew’s residence expects to achieve as many as 2,000 playing cards within the coming days.
‘Because of them, we’re French at the moment’
Myriam Marty, who lives in Toulouse in southern France, despatched a card to Pettigrew after seeing his request on her Fb feed.
“We do not actually understand what they went via and I believe it is our responsibility at the moment to say thanks,” stated Marty.
“I’ve at all times had a really deep respect for these folks,” she stated, including “because of them, we’re French at the moment.”
She says the variety of playing cards pouring in simply proves that in a world typically targeted on individualism, folks nonetheless get pleasure from coming collectively to honour those that have sacrificed.
Lecturers Rendean Koudelka and Michel St. Louis at Hilltop Excessive Faculty in Whitecourt, Alta., had about 25 college students assist write birthday playing cards for Pettigrew.
St. Louis says they used this as a studying alternative for his or her Grade 9 class within the city, positioned about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
“I described what Mr. Pettigrew needed to undergo,” stated St.Louis. “They knew about him, and what he did, and all the great issues he did as a Canadian.”
Koudelka says the teenagers confirmed immense gratitude via their letters.
“It was very apparent they have been grateful,” stated Koudelka.
To mark his birthday on Friday, Pettigrew will participate in an exercise with members of the Navy on the Quebec Garrison Membership.
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