Nova Scotia

At the age of 95, Mrs. Margaret May Langille of River John, Nova Scotia, was the 1996 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1996, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On August 16, 1944, her son, Private Lawrence Alvin Langille, was killed while serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment during an assault in Falaise, France.

Mrs. Langille was born in Cape John on May 20, 1901 and was the daughter of Peter and Minnie Heighton. She married Mr. Elsford Langille and together they raised their own sons, six foster children from infancy and provided a temporary home for other foster children.

Mrs. Langille was known for her generous spirit and ensured that those she cared about were afforded a home-cooked meal and a place to stay. Despite damaged eyesight and limbs, resulting from childhood tuberculosis, she continued to sew, quilt, knit, crochet and bake for her children and presented friends with homemade, Christmas fruitcake.

Mrs. Langille collected and cherished photos and keepsakes from four generations of offspring, foster children and their descendants, including a pillow from her son, Lawrence, embroidered, with the word "Mother". Mrs. Langille died on June 6, 2007, at the age of 106. She was predeceased by her husband.

Mrs. Doreen Coolen of Simms Settlement in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, was the 2002 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2002, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On April 17, 2002, her only child, Private Richard Anthony Green, died as a result of a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan while on duty with the 3^rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Mrs. Coolen, née Young, is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of Elva and Cecil Young.

In 2002, Mrs. Coolen was accompanied to the national Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa by Michael McDonald, whom she considers to be Private Green’s foster father. She enjoys reading, gardening, camping, cooking and hunting in her spare time.

Mrs. Charlotte Lynn Smith of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, was the 2003 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2003, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On April 17, 2002, her son, Private Nathan Lloyd Smith, was killed, as a result of friendly fire, while serving with the 3^rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan.

Mrs. Smith, a native of Ostrea Lake, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, is the daughter of the late Raymond and Rose Williams. She attended Ostrea Lake Elementary School, Robert Jamieson High School and Saint Peter’s School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where Mrs. Smith enrolled in commercial business courses.

She married Lloyd David Smith of Tatamagouche and together they had two children, Nathan and Karen.

Mrs. Smith has been active in the Ostrea Lake Anglican Church and has served as a warden and treasurer.