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Veterans and one companion, as well as immediate families of deceased veterans, can travel all day, system-wide without charge.  Those wishing to use YRT Mobility Plus service must be registered Mobility Plus users.

Veterans can identify themselves to YRT/Viva drivers and fare inspectors by showing uniforms, medals, berets and blazers.  The immediate family of a deceased veteran may identify themselves with documents, including an identification card or service papers.

Warriors’ Day was established in 1921 through the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).  The Warriors’ Day parade often marks the opening of the CNE and is an opportunity to remember fallen heroes who served bravely in Canada’s military services defending the freedom of all Canadians.

For more information about YRT/Viva services, please visit the YRT/Viva website at www.yrt.ca, or call the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978).

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, please visit www.york.ca

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The two WW I medals and two letters, offered for auction on eBay, were purchased with the help of local benefactors Harold N. and Arlajean Everett, who read about the Museum’s desire to purchase the medals in the local paper.

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said, “Pte. Rae died a very young man in the service of his country. We wanted to honour his sacrifice by ensuring his medals and correspondence were brought back to Markham and put on display for future generations.”

Pte. Rae was a signal corpsman with the 4th Mounted Rifles Battalion. The son of the Presbyterian Church of Unionville minister Reverend Frank Rae, he died a prisoner of war in Belgium, in 1917, at age 24. Pte. Rae, who attended Markham High School, is buried in Kortrijk (St. Jan) Communal Cemetery in Belgium.

Markham Museum Board Chair John Buie said, “Once we knew about the availability of the medals, we went to work to see how we could obtain them. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Everett, they are now part of the Museum’s collection.”

The grouping of medals and letters from Pte. Rae include a World War I Canada British War Medal, a Canadian Memorial Cross, an original 1917 letter from a fellow prisoner of war written to Pte. Rae’s father and a 1928 letter about his burial location from the Canadian Department of National Defence.

“We did receive a number of offers of support and thank everyone who came forward. This purchase could be the start of an enhanced collection of medals and other memorabilia for the Museum,” said Mayor Scarpitti. “This would be a tangible expression of Markham’s motto Leading While Remembering.”

More than 100 veterans reside in Markham today and 68 Markham residents gave their lives during World War I and World War II.

The medals will be displayed at the Markham Civic Centre before becoming part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

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