Muslims recognize veterans during annual campaign

Saskatoon Muslims gathered Friday to honour and remember the nation’s veterans.

The Ahmadiyya Jama’at Canada community celebrated its 5th annual nation Muslims for Remembrance Day campaign. From separate rooms, men and women listened to speeches from veterans and members of their own community.

Imam Khalid Minhas said it’s important for all communities and faiths to recognize the men and women who served.

“It’s a real realization of how grateful we should be to live in a country where there is freedom and peace and the reason why that is, is because of these people who have sacrificed their time, their youth and everything they could offer,” he said.

He said it is also a way to teach the new generation about what others did to try and obtain freedom for their country.

Korean War veteran Colin Clay, 83, spoke to the gathering following prayers. As a member of Multifaith Saskatchewan, Clay said it was important for him to bridge the gap between faiths to find peace in our time.

“I’m a Christian and that’s my tradition, but it also means that I am not to say that’s the only way, that we must respect and work with and learn from people of all faith traditions,” Clay said.

Poppies were handed out to attendees with donations going to the Royal Canadian Legion.