By Roger White

Wounded Warriors to make stop at Fort Battleford

Jul 21, 2017 | 10:31 AM

Participants heading to the next week’s Wounded Warrior Weekend in Lloydminster will be making a stop at Fort Battleford on Thursday, July 27.

Wounded Warriors Weekend is an annual event filled with activities for veterans, reservists, active duty military and first responders who are challenged by physical and/or mental wounds sustained by active participation in recent or past military conflicts or duties.

As part of their stop at Fort Battleford, the bus of attendees will be treated to a hot meal and will have a chance to view the historic venue.

“We are certainly honoured to provide a hot meal to these men and women when they stop into Fort Battleford,” Marlene Oleshko, a member of the Battlefords Wounded Warriors Weekend committee, said. “These are the brave young men and women with PTSD who fought for our freedom. We owe it to them and we are proud to do our part.”   

The participants will arrive by bus at approximately 5:30 p.m. and will be accompanied by Canadian country music legends The Good Brothers, Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and Country Music Hall of Fame member Blake Emmons who gained popularity in the 1970’s as host of the CTV variety show, The Funny Farm.

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Emmons, a former Vietnam war veteran knows too well what soldiers with PTSD battle. It was his vision that started the Wounded Warriors Weekend in 2012. Emmons said it was his way to help his fellow veterans.

“I wanted to do something to help the veterans who are stricken with PTSD,” Emmons said. “It’s an ugly, painful weight that affects more soldiers than you or I could imagine and subsequently it affects their families.”

The Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer said he is proud of the fact that the Wounded Warriors Weekend has grown over five years of existence and that the province has led the way in participation in recent years.

“In 2012, we could only find six veterans in Saskatchewan to come to the weekend,” Emmons added. “This year we have 72 registered and they contacted us. No one gets turned away.”

Emmons invites members of the public to come to Fort Battleford and show support for the Wounded Warriors on route to Lloydminster on Thursday. There will be no charge for attending and Emmons, McGrath and the Good Brothers will meet and greet the public as well.

Tickets for the Battlefords Wounded Warriors Weekend fundraiser event are now available. The event raises funds to assist the veterans to attend the weekend. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, November 4 at the Don Ross Centre in North Battleford.  Tickets are available by contacting Marlene Oleshko at mjoleshko@hotmail.com.
 
 
roger.white@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW