Again this year, Remembrance Day was marked differently as several ceremonies were held with a limited number of participants or simply cancelled due to the sanitary situation related to COVID-19.
Éléonore Pilon, a young resident of Saint-Polycarpe, however, wanted to pay tribute to the veterans. To do this, she went to the Cenotaph of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, rue Jacques-Cartier in front of the courthouse, and she laid a white rose in their memory.
At the age of 12, Eléonore has a congenital amputation on her right leg. She is enrolled in the War Amps Association’s Les Vainqueurs Children’s Amputee Program. This program, which offers financial assistance for the purchase of artificial limbs as well as moral support, was created by amputee veterans.
Over 100 years ago, amputee veterans returning from World War I created the War Amps Association. Applying the philosophy of “amputees help each other”, they subsequently welcomed amputee veterans from World War II. Then, knowing that their experience could help others, they designed programs for all amputees.
Éléonore Pilon, a young amputee from Saint-Polycarpe, laid a white rose in tribute to veterans at the Cenotaph in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. (Photo library)
It was in 1975 that veterans launched the Les Vainqueurs program to ensure that young people, like Éléonore, have prostheses and embrace the motto “It’s what’s left that counts.”
Éléonore and the other members of the association are grateful to the amputee veterans who founded the organization and who provide them with access to a host of programs and resources.
Placing a white rose in their memory allows Éléonore not only to help preserve Canada’s military heritage, but also to express her gratitude to veterans for all they have done for young amputees over the years.
Since 1918, the association has served the needs of amputee veterans. Today, she continues to support them and all amputees across the country, including children. The Les Vainqueurs children’s amputee program offers financial assistance for the purchase of artificial limbs, regional seminars and moral support. Thanks to the Les Vainqueurs program, the tradition of the association “amputees help each other” will continue for many years to come.
