Sgt. Norm Walker on the power of prayer

Sgt. Norm Walker of Pincher Creek Legion #43

"With our wills prepared, a leave pass in our hand, we were sent home to say goodbye to our loved ones, and then we were off on an adventure just like our forefathers." - Norm Walker

Chris Davis

Local veteran Sergeant  (Ret'd) Norman Walker is a frequent speaker at Legion related events in the Pincher Creek area, including Canada Day celebrations and Remembrance events.  Last week he spoke at a special Remembrance event held at the Pincher Creek Community Hall on November 5, which included presentations by students from St. Michael's and Matthew Halton schools, the highlight of which was a visit and speech by Alberta Lieutenant Governor His Honour, Colonel (Ret'd) the Honourable Donald S. Ethell.  Sgt. Walker also spoke to Livingstone School students the next day in Lundbreck.  The video below is a combination of his presentation at both events, a speech titled "Prayer".  Sgt. Walker brought the experience of three overseas missions to his theme, imbuing both events with a focus of purpose.  Sgt. Walker is quite candid about the effects of war on his own well-being.  He lives every day with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He stripped armed conflict of its glamour while emphasizing the need for a steadfast resistance to the aggressors of the world.  His tender regard for the young people of our community was also well evident.

"Once in theatre we witnessed the devil's handiwork and man's inhumanity to man, with death and destruction of people and their lives.  We saw homeless people, before that was even a word in our vocabulary.  The refugees, the helpless orphans, the innocent men, women and children being victimized by armed thugs and corrupt governments.  The unarmed civilians suffered the most." - Norm Walker