Local veteran returning ‘home’ for Remembrance Day

Mark Ribble,

Leamington Post

Remembrance Day has a special meaning for a lot of people.

For Leamington native Corporal Shannon Gray, this one will be even more special, as she returns to her roots to participate in Leamington's annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

Gray joined the military in 1986 and then left to raise her family in 1989, but the urge to serve her country struck her again in 2005 at the age of 38 and she signed up again.

Growing up in Leamington and Blytheswood, Corporal Gray attended St Michaels, St. Louis and Blytheswood Public School before graduating from Kingsville High School. She credits her parents, Darrell and Julie Scratch, with instilling in her the values she still lives by today.

"I would like to thank my parents for the support they gave me while I was overseas. If it wasn't for the way I was raised, I don't think I could have dealt with what I dealt with in Afghanistan," she said.

And while she was there, she was thankful for the support from her hometown, especially the hugs and support her mother Julie received from so many in this area.

Corporal Gray is indeed a veteran of Afghanistan, serving with the Canadian Army as a medic. She was stationed at a small outpost called Shoja in the Panjawi district, just outside of Kandahar. Her overseas service ran from May, 2010 until December of last year. She has many memories that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

"I will always remember the gratitude of the Afghani people," she said.  To read more go to www.leamingtonpostandshopper.com.