A book featuring the stories of local veterans will be presented to the public during an official launch at the Sarnia Legion on Saturday.
Tom Slater and Tom St. Amand worked together to write Valour Remembered, which chronicles the stories of those who fought in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, and the War in Afghanistan.
Slater said the two used to contribute stories to a local newspaper for Remembrance Day and decided to expand upon their research about three years ago.
"We made contact with most of the families that we wrote about and they were more than willing to share information, share photographs," said Slater. "It was just our way of making sure the stories of local guys from Sarnia and Lambton County that went off to war, that their sacrifices are remembered and honoured as well as the sacrifices of their family members."
In addition to speaking with family members for this book, Slater said they were in contact with military experts, historians, researchers, and military groups in Europe.
"We're quite proud of the results and we're happy the community's going to have an opportunity to purchase these books, basically at cost through the Legion," he said.
Slater said over 200 copies will be available to purchase for $20 each.
"It's non-profit, we're not making any money off of it. We just want the stories to be out there," Slater said.
Although the book contains 25 stories, Slater said the book references more than 25 soldiers, all of whom were "incredible people."
"You're so involved in the research and interviewing family members, you really grow an attachment and feel an affinity for these guys and feel an attachment to these guys," he said. "I'm just staggered by the fact that they volunteered to go off to war to fight for freedom and democracy."
The official book launch will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on September 23 at the Royal Canadian Legion, located on Front Street in Sarnia.
