It took 74 years, but John Andrew 香蕉视频直播淒utch香蕉视频直播� McLellan finally received his World War II medals.

McLellan was awarded his hardware at a ceremony Oct. 23 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Cloverdale.

香蕉视频直播淒ad was feeling really great that night,香蕉视频直播� said Don McLellan, John香蕉视频直播檚 son.

Don said his dad appreciated that so many family members and others showed up to witness a ceremony 74 years in the making.

香蕉视频直播淗e was pretty proud to receive the medals and he has them on his coffee table,香蕉视频直播� said Don. 香蕉视频直播淪omeone asked him after the ceremony what he thought about all this and he said, 香蕉视频直播業 wonder why it all happened.香蕉视频直播� They asked, 香蕉视频直播榙o you mean the ceremony?香蕉视频直播� He answered 香蕉视频直播榥o, why the war had to happen?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Don was also glad to see so many people there, both family and others. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of times the veterans get forgotten.香蕉视频直播�

But it was no clerical error that prevented John from receiving his medals, he just never applied for them.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 just that type of person,香蕉视频直播� Don said. 香蕉视频直播淗e said to me when I asked him, 香蕉视频直播業 never applied for them because I was just doing my job.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

John may not have received his medals at all had the family not inquired to see if John was eligible for a veteran香蕉视频直播檚 pension.

Don said his dad was in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. 香蕉视频直播淗e suffered some hearing loss because of his (service), so we thought he would definitely qualify for a veteran香蕉视频直播檚 pension.香蕉视频直播�

As they inquired about the pension, they contacted the Cloverdale Legion. That香蕉视频直播檚 when Earl Fraser, the Legion香蕉视频直播檚 service officer, paid John a visit.

香蕉视频直播淚 went to his house to visit him and see if we could get him a disability pension from Veterans Affairs Canada.香蕉视频直播�

Fraser asked John where his war medals were.

香蕉视频直播淎we, I never got them,香蕉视频直播� John said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter.香蕉视频直播�

Fraser then told John he should apply for them, even if it was just something John香蕉视频直播檚 children would appreciate.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 want you to leave today,香蕉视频直播� Fraser told John, 香蕉视频直播渂ut when you do go, your boys can have them.香蕉视频直播�

John agreed. 香蕉视频直播淗e said, 香蕉视频直播極kay, that sounds pretty good.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

So Fraser and Don looked through John香蕉视频直播檚 old WWII Soldier香蕉视频直播檚 Service and Pay Book.

香蕉视频直播淚t said in the book that he qualified for some medals,香蕉视频直播� said Don.

That香蕉视频直播檚 when things got interesting for Fraser. He called Veterans Affairs Canada in Ottawa and spoke to someone in the Honour & Awards Section.

香蕉视频直播淚 gave him all John香蕉视频直播檚 info and he got back to us later saying John was eligible for two medals,香蕉视频直播� said Fraser.

Don said his dad was surprised he would be receiving medals 74 years after the war.

Fraser said the ceremony at the Cloverdale Legion was well-attended.

香蕉视频直播淚t was awesome,香蕉视频直播� said Fraser. 香蕉视频直播淛ohn was very proud of those medals. He earned them.香蕉视频直播�

Fraser also said John looks great for being a centenarian.

香蕉视频直播淣obody could believe his age. At 101, he looks like he could be 80.香蕉视频直播�

When Scott MacMillan, Legion president, pinned the medals on John香蕉视频直播檚 chest everyone in the Legion gave John a standing ovation.

香蕉视频直播淚 got goosebumps,香蕉视频直播� said Fraser. 香蕉视频直播淭here were tears. It was amazing. Not only was there a lot of his family members, but there was also a lot of members in the Legion that night.香蕉视频直播�

Thirty-one family members attended the ceremony, which included John香蕉视频直播檚 children and their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In total, John has nine children, 24 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.

John was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1918, less than six weeks before the guns in Europe fell silent for the world香蕉视频直播檚 first Armistice Day.

John was the youngest of five children and his mother passed away of pulmonary tuberculosis when John was two years old.

香蕉视频直播淒ad was sent to live in Vancouver when he was six,香蕉视频直播� said Don. 香蕉视频直播淗e went to St. Patrick香蕉视频直播檚 until he finished Grade 9, then he was off to work.香蕉视频直播�

John was a sports enthusiast, according to Don, participating in lacrosse, football, and boxing. 香蕉视频直播淗e lost his spleen to the butt end of a lacrosse stick.香蕉视频直播�

Don said his dad then signed up with the army and was sent to Vernon for basic training.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 where he met my mother. She waited for three years for him to come back [from the war]. They had six boys and then adopted a girl who was a foster child. They then had two more girls. Mom passed away five years ago this November 12.香蕉视频直播�

John served in Operation Cottage, part of the Aleutian Islands campaign, in 1943. Both Canadian and American forces landed on Kiska Island only to find the Japanese had already left. But due to mines, vehicle accidents, and friendly fire香蕉视频直播攂oth Canadian and American forces mistook each other for Japanese troops香蕉视频直播攖he landing accrued 313 casualties, 92 dead and 221 wounded.

John then went to Europe and was part of the force that invaded the German-held Netherlands.

The two medals John received are the France and Germany Star and the 1939-1945 War Service Medal.

香蕉视频直播淗e is like a lot of soldiers,香蕉视频直播� said Don. 香蕉视频直播淭hey don香蕉视频直播檛 want to talk about (the war) much. In the past he talked a bit about the people of (The Netherlands). He said they were very good to the Canadian soldiers. He would have liked to have gone back and visited them, but it never happened.香蕉视频直播�

The Cloverdale Legion invited John to lay a wreath at the cenotaph in Veterans香蕉视频直播� Square on Remembrance Day, but John declined. He lives in Langley and has been attending the Remembrance Day ceremony in Fort Langley for the last six years. John plans to continue on with that tradition again this year with his family.

香蕉视频直播淗e said, 香蕉视频直播楾hank you for the honour, but I just want to be with my family again this year.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Don香蕉视频直播檚 brother Terry lives in Fort Langley and John likes the town and the Remembrance Day service there.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a smaller community,香蕉视频直播� Don said. 香蕉视频直播淭he service is very well attended and feels more like a family atmosphere.香蕉视频直播�

Don said the McLellans always head out for lunch afterwards.

香蕉视频直播淢y brother Terry has been phoning ahead this year to try to confirm numbers. Last year, he made a reservation for lunch for 24 people, but 28 showed up.香蕉视频直播�

Don said it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be another big year for a big family. He said John can香蕉视频直播檛 wait.

香蕉视频直播淗e loves being with his family, going to the ceremony, and then going out with everyone after.香蕉视频直播�