In honouring the founders of the War Amps, a Yukon woman will be laying a wreath at this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Whitehorse.
Tara Klippert is doing so as a part of Operation Legacy. Operation Legacy is an initiative run by the War Amps, who, over the years, have expanded from their initial mission of serving war amputees.
The War Amps was founded in 1920 by veterans who had lost their limbs in World War I, according to the War Amps website. The organization goals were to bring their case to the Canadian government, to assist amputee rehabilitation, and to support research into prosthetic limbs.
“It kind of only makes sense that, like us younger CHAMPs, would sort of continue to pay tribute to those soldiers, that sacrificed their lives, and just like making sure that those sacrifices are not forgotten,” said Klippert, who relied on the Child Amputee Program (CHAMP) when growing up in Whitehorse.
Klippert was born without her left hand, and frequently attended War Amps seminars in Vancouver as a child. She said she also received financial support from the War Amps for prosthetics and post-secondary education.
Now an adult, Klippert hosts dinners for amputees in Whitehorse. As the regional representative for the War Amps, she also recently visited the cenotaph at Whitehorse city hall, where she laid a rose.
Klippert said the War Amps is now focusing on adult amputees in tandem with its support of children amputees. Part of that is still supporting veterans, she said. The War Amps advocates for veterans to get benefits and insurance, Klippert said. It also advocates for any Canadian amputee facing discrimination, she said.
“It’s just an amazing service. It’s really helped me and so many other people in Canada,” said Klippert.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
