Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
Retired Sergeant Mike Rude is a 28 year Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served as a Paratrooper for The Canadian Airborne Regiment, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and with the Canadian Rangers. His operational deployments included Afghanistan, Somalia, and Bosnia. Mr. Rude has been a member of the Corner Brook branch of The Royal Canadian Legion.
Mr. Rude became aware of a Korean War Veteran who was not being provided support to commemorate a fallen soldier in the town of St. Anthony, NL. Mr. Rude made all necessary arrangements for three paratroopers from the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Rangers. He also brought in a Colour Party, Honour Guard and a band of sea and air cadets to appropriately commemorate the fallen soldier at a Remembrance Day ceremony. Mr. Rude frequently speaks with the Veteran to this day.
Mr. Rude has also worked with the Regimental Veterans Care Cell, checking in with wounded Veterans and their families, and he volunteered at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans in Alberta. While working with the Regimental Veterans’ Care cell, Mr. Rude facilitated the move of a Second World War Spitfire pilot from a Veterans Care home in southern Alberta, to the Kipnes Centre for Veterans in Edmonton. He has also escorted Veterans to hockey games and special events such as Canada Day festivities and has lent a helping hand with their day programs when possible.