Cyril Marten had just returned home after serving in the Second War World when he first observed Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, 1946.
He was sitting on a tractor at his farm in Wapella, Sask., looking at his watch at 11 a.m. and thinking about his older brother, Lionel, who didn91裸聊视频檛 make it back to Canada.
Now 99 years old and living in Penticton, Marten has spent each Nov. 11, the same way in the close to eight decades since.
91裸聊视频淔or two minutes on that day, he91裸聊视频檚 the one I think about every year,91裸聊视频� said Marten, who served as a mechanic in the Second World War from 1943 to 1946, servicing planes and ensuring they were ready to take flight.
It91裸聊视频檚 a sombre time of reflection for the Saskatchewan-born veteran.
His brother wasn91裸聊视频檛 the only person close to him that he didn91裸聊视频檛 get to say goodbye to.
But November is also a month of storytelling for the 99-year-old, from the ones that make him smile to the others that bring tears to his eyes.
91裸聊视频淲e would go to sleep in the dark, wake up and work on a plane until it was serviceable,91裸聊视频� Marten said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard to say how many were there, a lot of the planes didn91裸聊视频檛 come back.91裸聊视频�
Marten has lived in Penticton for 40 years but if he had it his way, being a British Columbian could have happened way sooner.
91裸聊视频淲hen I first joined (the force), they asked me where I wanted to train and I said west91裸聊视频nstead they sent me to Nova Scotia,91裸聊视频� Marten said with a laugh.
Marten has earned six medals for his service, most recently in 2022.
When serving overseas, Marten recalls how proud he was when first putting on an Air Force uniform.
91裸聊视频淭hey asked me if I wanted to be a mechanic and I said, yes, anything within the Air Force would be great.91裸聊视频�
Marten returned home to his Saskatchewan farm in 1946, reflecting on his experiences in England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium and France.
He was a veteran who fought for his country91裸聊视频檚 freedom and at this point, was officially a full-time farmer. 91裸聊视频淚 did that for about 20 more years or so,91裸聊视频� recalled Marten, whose memory in 2023 is as sharp as could be.
His sense of humour and timeless smile couldn91裸聊视频檛 be more on point.
In conversation with the Western News, Marten discussed his life, before and after the Second World War.
And rest assured with the Penticton resident, there91裸聊视频檚 always an adventure-filled story to be shared 91裸聊视频� from how he met his wife at a dancehall after serving in the war to driving twice a year from B.C. to his hometown in eastern Saskatchewan to visit his sister, who died a few years ago at the age of 104.
He91裸聊视频檚 proud of his time serving Canada overseas and of his life, too.
After all, the 91裸聊视频渟ecret91裸聊视频� to living his long life isn91裸聊视频檛 too complicated.
91裸聊视频淛ust be happy,91裸聊视频� he said.
Marten is one of eight Second World War veterans living at the Concorde retirement residence in Penticton.
The local resident will be part of the centre91裸聊视频檚 Remembrance Day events on Saturday, Nov. 11, with storytelling, bagpipes and a special ceremony headlining the day.
