In a world where the word “hero” is bandied about all too lightly, Sgt. Roy Rushton was the real deal.
Rushton, who died June 17 at age 100 in the Northumberland Veterans Unit in Pictou, was a veteran of both the Second World War and the Korean War.
With his widow Margaret and other family members looking on, Rushton was honoured at a memorial Saturday at the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Pictou. More than 100 family members, friends – some of whom lived with him at the Veterans Unit – and other dignitaries gathered to pay tribute.
“He would not want us all sad and crying,” said his son Rob Rushton. “This is the time to celebrate, to dance and sing. Let’s be excited about our futures and how he played a hand in them.”
Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane would see the late war hero often and gave an emotional speech during the memorial.
“He’s not just a hometown hero, Roy is a world hero,” she said. “Roy’s legacy will always swell our heads with pride.”
As Jakkie Roque and Pat Spaulding gave musical performances, a slide show set up in the corner of the Legion flashed glimpses of Roy Rushton’s life in photographs, from the years he served his country in the military, to his life as a family man, and pictures of him playing an old guitar he kept for decades.
Nova Scotia native and Senator Michael L. MacDonald called Rushton “a rare Canadian” who served in two major conflicts. He recalled travelling to South Korea a few years ago, where he visited the gravesites of Canadians who died on foreign soil in the Korean conflict (1950-53).
“Men like Roy Rushton, and the more than 500 who did not return home, showed up to defend freedom,” the senator said.
“They fought for all the right reasons, and they prevailed. We all celebrate a life well lived.”
Others who spoke at the memorial included Pictou East MLA Tim Houston, Brig.-Gen. Vincent Kennedy, Stephen Lee of the National Association of Korean-Canadians, and Col. Chang Bae Yoon, Defence Attache with the Korean Embassy in Canada.
One of four sons of Roy Rushton – the others are Barry, Joey and Brady – Rob Rushton said following the service that while his father didn’t like a big fuss being made about him, “I think he’s looking down right now, smiling.”
