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18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 30, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville youth busy signing up war veterans By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A local 14-year-old's attempt to remember and honour Canada's military past and future has become a remarkable piece of Canadian history. More than 800 Canadian men and women who fought in conflicts from World War I to the war currently raging in Afghanistan have signed Devin Castilloux's flag. For the past three years, the Grade 9 T.A. Blakelock student has been collecting the signatures of veterans and active military men and women to remember and honour those, who, he says, "don't receive enough recognition." "It's to remember all the people from the Korean war, the first World War, the second World War, who passed away," said Devin. "And it's to recognize people who are fighting now. "No one will remember them for what they did unless we start now." The flag is enormous ­ it began as just a Canadian flag, then a large, white flag was added, Devin explained. Now, it's several flags stitched together. One of those pieces was recently in Kandahar, and just returned along with 22-yearold Charlie Long, an Oakville resident who was stationed there for nearly seven months. The piece of the flag was flown there after Devin's father, Mike, read about Long in The Oakville Beaver and contacted Long's father, Doug, to see if they could help out with Devin's project. Long returned with the flag covered in more than 80 Canadian signatures, complete with messages like, `Keep it up, Devin,' and `You rock, what you're doing is really cool.' "What he's doing here is pretty honourable, LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER FLAG WAVERS: Devin Castilloux, left, and Charlie Long, hold a Canadian flag above Devin's enormous white flag.The 14-year-old Oakville resident and cadet in the 540 Golden Hawk Squadron, has been collecting the signatures of Canadian veterans and active military members over the past three years to try and preserve a part of the country's military history. Long recently returned from service in Kandahar and brought back a piece of the flag, complete with more than 80 signatures from Canadians currently at war, to contribute to Devin's project. I'm really proud of him," Long said, after handing the flag to Devin during a recent ceremony at the Castilloux's home. "It's nice to see someone as young as he is that actually cares about the soldiers." That feeling was shared among the Canadian troops in Afghanistan. "They were really excited about it," said Long. "I explained what Devin was doing and they were really happy to be a part of it." That portion of the flag will be sewn to the rest of it, adding another piece of Canadian military history to Devin's project. "I'm surprised how many signed it. Unfortunately, I think about two or three of them didn't make it back," Devin said. "I have to thank Charlie. I could have gotten all of these recent Canadian Afghanistan vets on the flag (without him), and for flying my Canadian Flag over there. Now, it's the newest Canadian battle flag." Those signatures are added to those of veterans of WWI, WWII, the Korean War and Canadian Peacekeepers, who Devin met on trips to Sunnybrook hospital, Ottawa, Calgary, the Oakville Legion, at various remembrance services and more over the past three years. "I've met many people and heard a lot of stories. Unfortunately, some of the people who signed it have passed," Devin said, including one of his favourite WWI veterans, Charles Clarence Laking. "He was amazing. He said one of my favourite quotes: He wouldn't do the war again for $100,000, but he wouldn't not do it again for a million. He's saying it was a good experience, but he wouldn't do it again." Laking is one of more than 600 veterans Devin has shaken hands with, said his dad, Mike, who, with his wife, Heather, is responsible for cultivating this love of Canadian history in their son. Devin's flag, he hopes, will fly in Ottawa next month during Remembrance Week to represent that same idea. "I want it to fly on parliament hill on the peace tower," said Devin, adding he sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper explaining his idea. "If I can't get it there, I want to fly it at Memorial Hall at the bottom of the peace tower." This, he says, would be an important way to honour and remember Canada's military past. "Everyone says America this, America that, China this, China that," he said. "Canada won't speak for itself. "WWI, WWII, Korea ­ they'll all be forgotten. This flag is to try and remember." Canadian veterans interested in signing Devin Castilloux's flag or visiting with him should email devin@castilloux.com -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com FREE BREA KFAS T & Lea's Mookie House Call ourhoodW.COUNTRY953.COM Neighb ENTER - WW THANK YOU OAKVILLE FOR WELCOMING MOOKIE AND LEA'S NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE CALL We could be coming to your home next with Canada's Most Listened to Country Station