ST. PAUL – When the autumn leaves fall gently to the ground, there emerges a day when the nation surrenders to a hushed melancholy, recalling the sacrifices made by Canadians in the past.
And there lingers, in the hearts of those who still remember, the true price of freedom.
Within St. Paul’s own veterans include two men whose lives were shaped by the shadows of the Cold War. For James Morton and Peter Bednarchuk, living in this period as soldiers is akin to living with a sword hanging above their heads.
The Cold War, which began shortly after the end of World War II, was a prolonged geopolitical and ideological conflict that occurred primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, defined by many historical texts as a period of international espionage and arms race.
Canada was aligned with the United States. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Morton served for a decade from 1965 to the end of 1974. During his service, he has been to numerous countries abroad, including Germany and Cyprus, considered by many historians to be among the hot spots of the Cold War. Morton was a Master Corporal when he retired.
As Morton sat on a couch at the St. Paul Royal Canadian Legion building, he said Remembrance Day is an opportunity to remember all the people who sacrificed their lives “and their time to give us the freedoms that we so much enjoy today.”
From his peripherals, Morton briefly glanced at a group of elementary students exploring the Legion’s building, their eyes wide in wonder at historical artifacts collected by the Legion over the years – tangible proof left by those from St. Paul and area who offered their lives for the nation.
He said he’s grateful that the Legion provides youth opportunities to gain insight into what paved the way for what young Canadians enjoy today.
Morton added, “It’s humbling to think of everything that people have done to give us the country that we live in today. So, am I personally frustrated with some of the things that go on today? Yeah, but I guess it’s an evolution, and we’ll work our way through it, and we’ll all come out better in the end... I hope.”
Ultimately, it’s important not to cast aside history – learning how “we got to where we’re at and who we are as people,” said Morton.
Peter Bednarchuk
In the other room, Peter Bednarchuk, also a veteran, was busy telling the same elementary students about the various artifacts and their stories.
Bednarchuk served from 1973 to 1978, also during the Cold War. During his service, he traveled the world, to places like Europe and the Middle East.
As a soldier, the Cold War period was a traumatic and dramatic period, recalled Bednarchuk, as he briefly slipped away from the students, leaving them free to explore.
While soldiers may not have frequently engaged in physical combat, the constant tension and uncertainty of the period demanded soldiers be on alert around the clock, “ready for an instant response,” he said.
“Living like that was very challenging,” especially not knowing what would happen, he recalled. “We were always living with a sword above our head.” There were always provocations, he added, and "we were always trying to de-escalate.”
Being a Cold War soldier was a different experience, he explained. There was a lot of mistrust. And soldiers didn’t know who to trust. Sometimes, even their own allies.
For Bednarchuk, reliving the past is difficult. And while the Legion is an organization created for veterans, it took him over 40 years after his service to join. “I thought that this reconnection might cause some turmoil in my heart and in my mind... [also] rightfully so for my wife and my family,” he said.
As someone who comes from a long line of people who served in the military, honouring veterans is important to Bednarchuk. One of his older cousins fought in World War II and died after the ship he was on was torpedoed.
“Never forget the cost of freedom,” he said, with a soft voice. “Freedom is not cheap. It’s bought – and paid for – in blood... and fear.”
He also gestured to some photos of soldiers from St. Paul who chose to serve their country despite their youth.
Some of them were among those in Canada’s history, who have died without ever having had children to continue their bloodline, said Bednarchuk. Many soldiers were not yet 18 when they chose to serve the country – and they died as they fought.
For those soldiers without children to honour and remember their sacrifice, “It’s up to us to remember them,” said Bednarchuk.
As Bednarchuk looked at the artifacts lining the walls, he said, “It’s like a museum... with all our artifacts and history,” adding, “We can never forget this, and I will try and do my best to keep it going as long as I can.”
Looking back to the students, Bednarchuk said it’s good to see them eager to learn. What they see, he hopes, will make them proud to be Canadians.
