The annual Veterans Luncheon took place at the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 59 on Wednesday, commemorating the centennial of the November 11, 1918 armistice, which ended World War I.

At the luncheon there was a special presentation from Kathie Carlson of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association. She talked about why it's important to hold these luncheons to honour our veterans.

"A lot of men went through some very difficult times for a very long time. Our families today won't ever forget on their behalf. We are here to make sure people never ever forget any parts of the war. Most people didn't know that they were going and didn't know if they would ever come back."

The Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association is in place to recognize the 1,976 Canadians who fought to defend Hong Kong during World War II in 1941. They were called by the British to defend the colony of Hong Kong from the oncoming Japanese Imperial Army. Many of the Canadians were under-trained and under-prepared.

The Canadians were shipped on Dec 8, 1941 and surrendered to the much larger Japanese army on Dec 25. They were the first Allied army to enter the Pacific theatre, and after their surrender and capture, the last to be liberated.

"Our whole mission at this point is education about what all these soldiers – 1,976 soldiers from Canada – the sacrifices they made to make our world today."

Carlson's father, Lieutenant Leonard Corrigan, was one of the few Canadians who was sent to Hong Kong in 1941 and was lucky enough to return home. Carlson brought a plaque commemorating those who served in Hong Kong, which will be on display at the Legion.

There were many veterans in attendance at the luncheon as well including Susan Knox, who spent 22 years in the Navy as a Logistics Officer, worked at the 15 Wing for 10 years, and has toured Afghanistan and Israel. Knox talked about why it's important to remember those who have served.

"The deaths of those individuals and those who came back injured have to be remembered or we lose the whole insight into why we have what we have today. We enjoy these freedoms and luxuries we have today because of those individuals who fought in those various conflicts overseas."