This year will mark the first Remembrance Day Spencer and Nolan Madden spend without their grandfather, but the two are making a trek to keep his memory alive.

When their war-veteran grandfather Donald Kwasny passed away in January at the age of 91, the brothers knew immediately they would make the trip to Ottawa for the national Remembrance Day ceremony.

“Every year, my little brother and I would suit up and go down to the ceremony with him,” said Spencer, 21. “He always appreciated it…. You could always tell he was really happy that his two grandsons were there. This past year, when it was getting pretty close, he knew he was dying, he told us, ‘You boys should go to Ottawa.’ So we are.”

After making a few calls, the two learned they would be laying a wreath at the ceremony.

They were given the choice to purchase a wreath but opted to make one using photos of both their grandfather and grandmother Frances, who passed away 10 years ago and who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps during the war.

The two went hiking to collect distinctly Albertan items like wild roses to include in the wreath.

“I think it’s important to remember and honour them…. They went through it so we didn’t have to,” said Nolan. “He was a hero to us both.”