Jim McGee hadn’t planned on a long military career.

“I joined up when I was a teenager for a summer job and I stayed for 37 year,” he said.

McGee lived in Mississauga for the nearly four decades, all while he was in the service. He did all of his service in Canada, starting as a junior soldier and moving through the ranks to regimental sergeant-major and then commissioning to the rank of captain.

October 1965 was his first time on the job. McGee recalled the intimidation he felt his first day.

“It was interesting, I mean I was brand new, just a kid,” he said. “I was 16.”

McGee recalled his lifelong profession while attending the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Toronto Zoo.

He thought long and hard about his most vivid memories. A few moments pass when a nudge to the arm reminded him of his most favourite one.

“I met my wife in the military,” McGee said. “She was also an officer.”

McGee still works with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, and is also the security supervisor at the Keele Correctional Centre.

As the trumpets sounded and the crowd stood respectfully on this Remembrance Day, McGee said he felt the appreciation of the people present at the Zoo ceremony.