Celebrating Passion & Purpose 
November 20, 2025
A Veteran’s Journey: The Life of Tom Young
A long and fulfilling life is enriched by purpose, curiosity, passion, and a love of learning. We’re grateful to the residents in our communities who generously share the wisdom gained through years of experience. From veterans and painters to farmers, teachers, and so many others, their stories continue to inspire, guide, and remind us of the richness that comes from a life well lived.
This Remembrance Day, we pause to recognize the courage and dedication of those who served to protect our country. Among them is Thomas (Tom) Young, a beloved resident of Parkland at West Bedford in N.S, who began his military career at just 15 years old and went on to serve 22 years in the Royal Canadian Navy.
In the 1950s, he served in the Korean War, a time he remembers as both challenging and filled with camaraderie, laughter, and adventure. “Sailors will be sailors,” he says with a grin before adding with nostalgia, “That was a way of blowing off steam from the hard times.”
Tom has received several awards, including the Quilt of Valour, a handmade tribute to Canadian Armed Forces members injured during service. “It means a lot to me to be recognized for what I did”, he says. Today, at age 99, his unbreakable spirit continues to shine. A reminder of the strength, loyalty, and quiet dignity that defines a true veteran. As we observe Remembrance Day, we honour Tom and all veterans who served and continue to serve our country with dedication and courage. Their sacrifices, both seen and unseen,continue to protect the freedoms we cherish today.
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