Nearly 80 years after the end of the Second World War, 101-year-old Sault veteran Aldo Diotallevi received his military medals honouring his service to Canada at a special ceremony held at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 on Monday.
“I feel so good to have served. I’ll do anything for Canada. This is the most wonderful country in the world," Diotallevi told an audience gathered at Branch 25. "My dad came from Italy and he worked hard. He always said to me: ‘Aldo, you’re living in the greatest country in the world. Anything they want you to do, you do it.’ I would serve again if they take 101-year-olds."
Diotallevi received the Canadian Volunteer Service Award, granted to anyone who served for at least 18 months in Canada’s army, navy or air force between September 1939 and March 1947.
He also received the War Medal for 1939-1945 and the General Service Badge for all Second World War veterans.
Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker presented Diotallevi with his medals.
Many Second World War veterans didn’t get their service medals for a simple reason: they didn’t ask and the federal government didn't always automatically give them out.
“It was the end of the war in 1945," Jody Hudec, Branch 25 service officer told SooToday. "The only thing on service members’ minds was going home so some things got put aside. He was put on a train and sent back to the Sault. He just wanted to get home. He was 22 years old and full of life. The war was over. It was a period of time that was tough on Canada and the city of Sault Ste. Marie. He just wanted to get home."
However, Diotallevi told Branch 25 after the most recent Remembrance Day ceremony held Nov. 11 that he should have asked for his service medals long ago and approached Branch officials for help.
“As a team we managed to get hold of Veterans Affairs and the Department of National Defence and we made it happen,” Hudec said.
Born in Sault Ste. Marie on August 4, 1923, Diotallevi served with the Canadian Army at Canadian bases from September 1942 to July 1945.
“I just did what I was told to do but I had three stripes. I was a Sergeant so I had some liberty,” he laughed in an interview with SooToday.
Like everyone else who joined the Canadian Armed Forces in World War II, Diotallevi accepted the reality of war and that a job had to be done.
“You just say to yourself: ‘I have to do my duty like everybody else.’ It’s not a case of saying ‘I don’t like it.’ Nobody likes to be taken away from home but there was a war on," Diotallevi said. "If your country wants you, you go. That’s the name of the game, but Canada’s the greatest country in the world and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. You won’t find a better country."
Diotallevi is a widower, father and grandfather.
After the war he worked in a managerial position in what is now known as Service Canada.
He also ran his own local jazz band and was the owner/operator of Tastee-Freez, a popular downtown soft ice cream business back in the day.
What does he credit his longevity to?
“Italian wine,” he chuckled.
There are four other Branch 25 members who are centenarians: Jens Lamour, Ken Anstice, Steve Wochy and Mel Mizzi.
It was also a day to honour the Sault’s Evelyn Theriault with a Royal Canadian Legion medal to mark her 50 years of being a Legion member — 68 years after she joined the organization.
“Unfortunately, over a number of years and through no fault of her own, her service was overlooked. It’s long overdue and for that we apologize,” said Pierre Breckenridge, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 president.
“Thank you to the Sault Ste. Marie Legion for all they have done. It’s appreciated more than I can say,” said a gracious Theriault.
Born in Thessalon and raised in the Sault, Theriault graduated from the Sault Technical and Commercial High School — known as The Tech — and then served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1955-1957 as a Leading Airwoman.
Theriault served with the air force medical corps and was trained to be a registered nurse.
“I used to fly patients from Greenwood, Nova Scotia to Halifax. I loved it. I learned a lot in the air force. I learned that you support your country and your community however you can,” Theriault said after Monday’s ceremony.
After leaving the RCAF she worked as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Blind River for 37 years.
She retired in 1995 and moved to the Sault that same year, serving on numerous boards and committees for several organizations.
“I might be the only one in the Sault that served on the General Hospital board, the Plummer Hospital board, the Sault Area Hospital board, the hospital foundation and the auxiliaries,” Theriault said.
Theriault is a widow, mother, grandmother and was a foster parent to several children over the years.
“To be recognized with this medal by the Legion, it’s really appreciated but I don’t do it for medals. I do it for my country and the community,” Theriault said.
Diotallevi and Theriault were each accompanied by a large group of family members at Monday's ceremony.
Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker thanked both Diotallevi and Theriault for their service to Canada.