'I did what had to be done': Veterans share stories during Winnipeg cemetery tour

Red poppies were pinned to lapels as a group gathered at the Brookside Cemetery to honour Canada's veterans on Sunday.

The sun shone warm on members of the public and veterans who took part in the cemetery tour, which started events all week long leading up to Remembrance Day on Friday.

"We are sharing the story of what happened, the [veterans'] experiences, the service and sacrifice they gave for their country," explained Jane Saxby, administrator of the City of Winnipeg cemeteries.

People toured through the Brookside Military Field of Honour, one of the oldest and largest military fields of honour in the country, before a service at the Stone of Remembrance at 1:30 p.m.

There are more than 11,000 war veterans interred in the cemetery.

While Sunday's event was for the public, the rest of the week will bring about 600 school children through the cemetery to talk about the military history of the community and the changing face of veterans.

"We now have veterans of World War One, World War Two, Afghanistan, the Battle of Hong Kong, Korea and many other battles in places that have conflicts in the world," Saxby said.

John Stoyka walked around the cemetery remembering how he enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles right out of school and fought in WW II.

"I'm not sorry. I did what had to be done. I was fortunate that I came back alive because there were times I thought I'd never come back — close calls, too many," he said.

Initially a tank driver, Stoyka was sent to the front lines as a member of the infantry after D-Day because there had been so many losses and "they needed more men."

He said it is important people, especially youth, learn about the sacrifices Canadians have made.

"War is a terrible thing but they have to understand it. They need to understand it better," he said.

"It's not just a matter of running around with a gun and playing with it, it doesn't work that way. It's deadly, deadly in so many ways."