Red Deer's Nate Collier, 9, stands next to a memorial at a cemetery in Provost where his great-great-uncle -- a WWII veteran -- rests. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

operation legacy

Young Red Deerian learning about remembrance though membership with War Amps

Nov 7, 2021 | 12:49 PM

A 9-year-old Red Deer boy is saying thank you this Remembrance Day to his friends at the War Amps, but also to veterans of wars gone by.

Nate Collier was born missing most of the fingers on his left hand – a condition called symbrachydactyly.

He and mom Jodi recently visited the cenotaph in Red Deer, and then the cemetery in Provost where his great-great-uncle Jacob Rehman – who served and died in WWII – is at rest.

“The entire way down, he was asking me questions like what is the war, why did the soldiers go, did they have a choice, and he learned about his uncle,” says Collier. “He asked why they died, about why we wear poppies, why we need to be grateful, and about how the War Amps was created.”

Adds Collier: “We also had a discussion about why we live in Canada, and how that may not be the case if we hadn’t had wars and people who were willing to sacrifice.”

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Nate, who plays hockey with Red Deer Minor in spite of his condition, has been involved with War Amps since he was five, his mother shares.

“The biggest thing for us is War Amps is really committed to making sure the kids are good kids, living really fulfilled lives, and they even get them speaking about their disability,” she says.

“He’s had a really neat opportunity with this young boy about three years younger than him with the same amputation. They met through War Amps, started a friendship and now Nate is a mentor to him.”

Collier adds that being at seminars – seeing fellow amputees missing entire or multiple limbs — has made Nate realize the importance of being grateful for what he does have.

“War Amps has given him perspective. We spent a lot of time with him learning to tie his shoes, and he’s been willing to put in the work to do what his friends can do, just maybe in a different way,” she says.

“He does get frustrated, but he’s got a sense of humour and will make jokes about it. As parents, we sit back and get choked up because it’s incredible to watch your kid struggle, but then overcome something.”

Nate is also part of a War Amps initiative called Operation Legacy, which is a part of the Child Amputee Program (CHAMP-started in 1975) that allows members to help carry on the message of remembrance.

Children who are part of Operation Legacy participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies by laying wreaths, and also attend other special events, speak or present at schools or to community groups, or often write letters to the editor.

According to the organization, the War Amps was established more than a century ago by amputee veterans returning from WWI in order to help each other adapt to their new reality.

The fledgling agency then welcomed the next generation of amputee veterans following WWII, and today continues to assist all amputees across Canada, including children and veterans.

More about The War Amps is at waramps.ca.