For all the veterans of war who have worked so hard to ensure their sacrifices remembered,
we bring them the story of one young man.
He's grown up during the years that Canada's soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan,
and that's made notions of service a part of his life.
And as Mike Drolet shows us, taken him on a journey that bridges several generations
of soldiers.
They sign their names, rank serial numbers anywhere on the flag, anywhere there's space,
that is, Afghan soldiers next to vets from the two world wars and Korea.
No columns distinguishing one from another, just names of soldiers who served Canada when
called upon.
For me, it's an honor to be on the same flag as them.
This is Claire Lakey.
He was 104 then, and he was a World War I veteran.
You might be surprised by his age, not the then in the picture, but the kid.
Four years ago when this picture was taken, Devin Casteloup was 11 years old.
His parents had him visit vets in hospitals as a way to improve his writing skills.
So we thought, well, if you talk to some of the veterans, you're interested in history,
then you could write a little story.
What they couldn't have predicted was the intensity of his interest and the depth of
his compassion for those who served.
He began collecting signatures on a giant flag, and with every name came a story.
He made it his goal to take Canadians beyond Remembrance Day and understand how deep our
history is rooted, from the vet who trudged through France to the soldier fighting in
the sand in Afghanistan.
Whether they did code talking, they did merchant navy, whether they were both tank brigades,
whether they were platoons in the field, they were just training officers.
They all had a part in making what happened happen.
There are 1,200 signatures and counting on the flag.
Once it's full, he'd like to see it displayed in museums across the country.
What he doesn't realize is all the good it's doing at this very moment, on the large table
in Canada House and the middle of the base in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
I don't know the good word in English, but give me something in the heart.
Mike Drolet, Global News, Toronto.
And that is Global National for Thursday.
Breaking News is available through our website at globalnational.com.
I'm Kevin Newman.
Thank you for sharing your time with us.
Global News begins right now on most global stations.