This morning, we at CSN were watching CTV’s Your Morning and learned about Toronto resident Fred Arsenault, a 99-year-old Second World War veteran who’s asking for 100 birthday cards for his 100th birthday on March 6.
Arsenault’s son Ron, 63, posted the photo – with the soon-to-be-centenarian in full military dress, complete with his many decorations – on Facebook on Feb. 2. Already, the post has been shared more than 750 times, and national media has picked up on the story.
“I thought everyone would be watching the Super Bowl,” Ron told the Toronto Star on Feb. 4. “By Monday morning our story was on Reddit and by yesterday afternoon Mayor Tory was sharing it.”
Ron told the Star he was inspired by Jim South, another Second World War veteran from Texas, who made a request for 100,000 cards for his 100th birthday last October.
He’s also informed Canada Post about the incoming mail.
SEND FRED A LETTER
We feel this is an excellent opportunity for stamp collectors and postal historians to send Fred a philatelic birthday card. Be sure to take a photo of your card and email it to info@trajan.ca so we can share it with our readers.
Fred’s mailing address is:
9 Kenmore Ave.
Toronto, ON
M1K1B3
Second World War veteran Fred Arsenault, who served with the Cape Breton Highlanders, is asking people to send him a birthday card for his 100th birthday on March 6. (Photo via Your Morning)
CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDER
“I was buried alive,” Arsenault told Ottawa Citizen reporter Blair Crawford in 2018.
“An enemy shell landed so close to the young Cape Breton Highlander private that he was covered in a shower of earth,” wrote Crawford, detailing Arsenault’s service. “Miraculously unwounded save for a ruptured eardrum, his brothers in arms dug Arsenault out and he continued the fight, through the battles of Ortona and Monte Cassino, north through Italy and into France. Once, a German sniper shot and killed the man standing beside him.”
THE PRIME MINISTER TWEETS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently shared Fred’s story on Twitter.
Hey Canada – Fred Arsenault’s 100th birthday is coming up next month. Let’s give this Canadian hero the thanks he deserves. pic.twitter.com/VV7EwPvBF0
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 5, 2020
Another tweet from a Toronto teacher shows her students penning letters to Fred.
Our class is writing birthday letters to #FredArsenault to help him celebrate his 100th birthday! @bayviewglenps1 #happybirthday Fred! Thank you for your service. #100 https://t.co/TqYzDBiKQA pic.twitter.com/p6bkGwvDy5
— Lauren Ptasznik (@MsPtasznik) February 5, 2020