Stettler has a long history of sending men to war.
The Rudd family, formerly of Stettler, knew this well.
According to the Government of Canada Archives, Annie Rudd was the 1974 Silver Cross Mother at Ottawa's National Remembrance Day Service.
In her role as Silver Cross Mother, Rudd laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial, representing all mothers who lost children in Canadian military service.
Rudd didn't lose one, but two children in combat during World War Two.
Sgt. Francis Rudd was killed on Oct. 9, 1943, in Hanover, Germany, while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Sapper Thomas William Rudd was killed in combat in France as a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers.
A third son, Albert John Rudd, served with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry during World War Two until being injured in Italy in 1944.
Annie Rudd was no stranger to the danger of military life; her husband, Thomas Rudd, Sr, was an Imperial Veteran who served in World War One, with the British military before being seriously wounded. Thomas Rudd, Sr., was discharged from military service in 1917 with a military medal.
Military service truly ran in the Rudd bloodline; grandson Jack would go on to serve with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as well years later.
-With files from the Government of Canada Archives.
