By Daksh Siwas
There were 100 different reasons to celebrate on February 22nd as friends, family and fellow legion members gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of longtime Paris resident and Navy Veteran Henry Foster. The open house celebrations took place at the Royal Canadian Legion.
Foster’s kids and grandkids joined him on his special day, making his 100th birthday memorable with family pictures, a cake cutting, lunch, and a lot of reflecting on their time with him as they shared family stories. Granddaughter Hayley Clarke thinks of her granddad is an icon, noting how he is admired by everyone who knows him. She is probably not alone in those thoughts.“He deserves it. He’s an icon, and everyone loves him,” said Clarke. She continues saying, “We couldn’t be happier than to have a granddad like him. He’s so well-rounded, knowledgeable, and kind.”
Reflecting on her memories, Clarke recalls how she used to spend a lot of time fishing with him, and those are memories she really cherishes. Another one of Fosters’ granddaughters, Heather Jones, shared how he enjoyed spending his time at the legion over the years, so much so, “He taught kids how to throw darts at the Legion club,” she remembers. But it wasn’t just about his love for the legion; Heather, and Foster’s daughter Sheila, talked about how his values helped shape the family's values and created an unbreakable bond passed down through the
generations.
Foster is a lifelong Paris resident who served in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II. He enlisted in the Navy before his 18th birthday and served as a gunner on a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship. He is the oldest living veteran in Paris, Ont. Foster continues to play an important role in the Paris Remembrance Day ceremonies each year.Despite all the decades that have passed, Foster said he very much remembers his time in Canadian Armed Forces and the people he met and the experiences they had together. Over one million soldiers fought in World War II.
As of November 2023, Veteran Affairs Canada estimated only 9,267 were alive, and that number is dwindling. As the average age of a veteran is increasing, that makes stories like Fosters more sacred.His dedication to his country and community was evident during his 100th birthday celebration as the Legion was filled with smiles, laughter, joy and stories.
Foster’s family easily expressed their pride for him, noting a more recent honour bestowed upon him by the town when they named a street after him last year. Henry Foster Lane runs between Broadway Street West and West River Street, close to the Paris Library.
Catching up with Foster during his birthday celebration, he shared, “It feels great, I am overwhelmed,” when asked how he felt to be the centre of so much love and support from the community. He also shared his secret to longevity, “keep moving” he said, that’s the key to a long, fulfilling life.
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