Maureen Anderson

2024 National Memorial Silver Cross Mother - Maureen Anderson

Maureen Anderson
2024 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother – Maureen Anderson (Photo: Royal Canadian Legion www.Legion.ca)(Photo: Royal Canadian Legion)

Maureen Anderson grew up in Derby, New Brunswick, but Oromocto is now home. She was born in England and was barely a toddler when her parents moved to Canada in 1947. Her English mother was a war bride who met her Canadian father while he was serving in Europe during the Second World War. Maureen was the oldest of seven children and helped look after her siblings from a very young age. She had always wanted to be a nurse and attended what was then the Moncton Technical Institute and graduated as a registered nursing assistant – now often called a licensed practical nurse.  

She worked at the National Defence Medical Centre and lived at the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe. One of her patients turned out to be her late husband Peter Anderson – an Army Veteran who later became a Sargeant Major and retired as a Master Warrant Officer. When the two married, Maureen had to step down from her job with the Air Force because of the working regulations at the time. She and her husband raised two children: Ron and his younger brother Ryan. Both would grow up to follow in their father’s footsteps, joining the military as soon as they could, even before finishing High School.

As the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother, Mrs. Anderson will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial on 11 November 2024 on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or a daughter in the military either in action or in the course of his/her normal duty. Throughout the year she will also be called upon to perform other duties honouring the Fallen from all conflicts.

She lost her son Sergeant Ron Anderson due to an accumulation of tragic experiences overseas which led to Ron taking his own life in 2014. Upon his return from his second tour in Afghanistan, he had changed. He wanted to be alone and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her son Ryan’s mental health deteriorated faster after his tour in Afghanistan. He too was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Ryan’s health took another downturn fairly quickly after his brother’s passing, and he grew more isolated as well. He passed away in 2017.

 
Sgt. Ron Anderson
Sgt. Ron Anderson (Photo: Royal Canadian Legion www.Legion.ca)(Photo: Royal Canadian Legion)

Ron Anderson

Sergeant Ron Anderson was a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He served in locations including Petawawa, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo and had two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Born on May 27, 1974 in Lahr, Germany, the country where his parents were living at the time, Ron knew what he wanted to do from an early age. A very active and energetic youngster, one precursor to his later desire to enlist was a favourite pastime he shared with his younger brother Ryan. “As kids, they played war games,” she recalls. Ron began in cadets, then jointed the militia in Nova Scotia, and later trained in Gagetown, New Brunswick, becoming a member of The Canadian Army.

While her sons rarely spoke of their roles and actions in the forces, including when they served overseas, they were clearly affected by their experiences. She believes an accumulation of tragic experiences overseas led to Ron taking his own life in 2014. Upon his return from his second tour in Afghanistan, she says he had changed. He wanted to be alone. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

One bright memory Maureen shares is how Ron had been awarded a commendation for having saved the life of an injured little boy while in Afghanistan, and under deadly circumstances. “He performed First Aid, and I guess he was surrounded by Afghans with all these guns pointed at him,” she recounts. His actions in the face of danger that day don’t surprise her. “That would be him,” she says. “He was a rough, tough guy, that wouldn’t bother him.”

But Ron never told his parents he had received the award, she learned of it only after his passing. “He was very proud, he did not want any scene, any big fanfare,” she says. She and her late husband later received the certificate that came with his commendation and hung it with pride in their home.

Ron had four children at the time of his passing. His son Bryce is now serving with The Canadian Army.

 
Sgt. Ron Anderson
Sgt. Ron Anderson (Photo: Royal Canadian Legion www.Legion.ca)(Photo: Royal Canadian Legion)

Ryan Anderson

Sergeant Ryan Anderson was a member of The Royal Canadian Regiment. He served in Gagetown and Yellowknife and in various places overseas such as Bosnia, Ethiopia, Haiti and also in Afghanistan alongside his older brother Ron. 

Born on February 19, 1979 in Oromocto, New Brunswick and just about as active as his brother, Ryan was into martial arts. He trained in Taekwondo and Karate, and he did well, says his mother. He also knew at an early age what he wanted to do. He joined the militia in Nova Scotia as soon as he could, then trained in Gagetown, New Brunswick becoming a member of The Canadian Army.

Maureen describes how both her sons’ personalities changed upon their return from Afghanistan. They were not as jubilant, funny, or happy like they used to be. They were kind of “quiet” and she noticed Ryan’s mental health deteriorated faster, with his condition also affecting other parts of his life. He too was diagnosed with PTSD.

She remembers the effects of PTSD well, and how Ryan who lived in the same complex, would sometimes call her for a visit in the middle of the night. She always said yes. 

“And I would get out of bed and go over to his apartment and get some coffees and just sit with him and listen to him.” Sometimes they would just watch music videos. “Sometimes he would cry and I’d say ‘what’s wrong’ and he would say ‘I don’t know’… I don’t regret that, thankfully I did that,” she says.

Maureen relates how Ryan’s health took another downturn fairly quickly after his brother’s passing, and he grew more isolated as well. He passed away in 2017. Both Ryan and his brother had been receiving help for their PTSD conditions before they passed.

Ryan had two children at the time of his passing.

 

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