For many Remembrance Day is a time to remember the fallen and fighting soldiers who risked and gave their lives for the freedom that we have today, but what does it mean to someone who has fought and served in the military?

Sgt. Terance Elford is from Mankota (150 kilometres south of Swift Current) and is currently serving in his twelfth year in the military.

Currently, he is the Regimental Quartermaster for the Royal Regina Rifles.

Elford has been all around the world, including serving in Afghanistan from October of 2009 to April of 2010 where he was C9 Gunner.

 "Every day is completely different," Elford said about his experience in the military. "Your experience is always different as to where you are, and to what you are doing at the time but, all in all, the best thing I can I've taken away from the military is my friends and family. You actually get two families out of it. Your regiment becomes your family - like some of the best friends I have in this world, I've met them through the military, and it's 100 percent the best part about it."

Today, according to Elford, is a time to reflect on, and be grateful for past and present sacrifices by members of the military.

"Remembrance Day to me, is just that. It's a day to remember," he said. "I never forget. Like every day of the year, I think of all the guys that I have served with, the guys we've lost. Remembrance Day itself is a day where everyone is focusing on that. It's a day straight up dedicated to the remembrance of those guys and girls across the country, past, current, everybody who's ever been involved in the military, it's just a day to dedicate to them, and that's what it means to me."

The Mankota-raised Sergeant said that Remembrance Day has gotten a lot more prevalent recently, and is in a good place now and that it feels good to see the support from everybody every year.

"During the moment of silence, when they're playing Reveille, you have so many things going through your mind, and you stop, and it becomes surreal. You look around, and you see all these people who are like standing up alongside you. They are remembering alongside us, and honestly, it feels good."

In fact, as Elford notes, and all would agree, these sacrifices are a large part of what has allowed Canada to be great.

"This great country that we have, all those soldiers played a big part in it. This is the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War. This is huge, and it's pretty rare to find one of these guys. I think we just have to (remember). We owe a whole lot of this country to the service and the service of the people from wars in the past and all the way up to today. That's why I think it's important to remember."

Today's Remembrance Day events in Swift Current start at 8:45 am with the Remembrance Day Parade at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall followed by a ceremony at the cenotaph in Memorial Park.

A second ceremony will be held at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School at 10:50 am.

At 2:00 pm there is a Remembrance Day Luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion.

Things wrap up at 7:00 pm with a Sounds of the 60's fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion. 

For more veteran stories, click the links below:

https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/world-war-2-veterans-talk-about-what-remembrance-day-means-to-them

https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/vetrens-talk-about-what-remembrance-day-means

https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/world-war-ii-veteran-recounts-his-days-in-the-war