Burlington’s singing vet pins poppies

(Updated) Commuters taking the early morning GO train from Appleby station in Burlington could hear the golden voice of an army veteran.

Bill Reid was too young to serve in the Second World War, but he was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and has two grandchildren who served in Afghanistan. For over 20 years he has been pinning poppies and singing war songs at the GO station.

“Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile.”

Bill definitely made people smile this morning singing war songs to hundreds of people heading to work. This is something the 80 year old veteran has done for 26 years since the station opened.

“I actually pin poppies and people say ‘I don’t have any money with me.’ Well put it in a box somewhere because someone will benefit from it. That’s the important thing.”

Commuters heading down the steps into the tunnel this morning were pleasantly surprised to hear Bills voice travelling throughout the entire station.

“You come in, in the morning and it just brightens you up listening to him sing”.

He greeted each person who stood in line, serenading them before going to work. He even inspired one woman to sing along.

“He’s been here for years and he’s a great guy.”

“This makes you proud as a Canadian for all of what the service men and women have done for our country. It’s phenomenal.”

With the tragic events last month of two Canadian soldiers who were targeted and killed, Reid says the awareness of Remembrance Day has heightened.

“It’s something within the pride of Canadians and I think that the Highway of Heroes and we look at how the people stood up on the bridges, and they responded to it, and realized because they were touched, they began to realize what war and the sacrifice people make.”

Bill says he will never forget those who have served our country and will keep singing in their honour until Remembrance Day.

“There will be love and laughter and peace everafter tomorrow when the world is free.”

Reid will continue to entertain commuters. He is there in the morning between 6 and 8 but he did tell CHCH News that he’s taking a day off tomorrow to take his wife to Niagara Falls for her 80th birthday.

He will be back singing on Thursday.