Where To Attend Local Remembrance Day Ceremonies

As the great bell in the nearby Peace Tower tolled 11, a solemn, two-minute silence fell over a crowd of thousands surrounding the National War Memorial for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

Bob Bourne visits the cenotaph every year and says this is a day to be a proud Canadian.

Victoria-Beacon Hill NDP MLA Carole James shed a tear during the vigil, remembering that her grandfather from England, who fought in the Second World War, took his painful stories of being a prisoner of war to the grave. “As we commemorate Remembrance Day, one of the best ways to honour today’s veterans for their sacrifice and service, is to hire them”.

Oh Canada was played followed by the Last Post.

Once the monument was open to the public, waves of people slowly made their way up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to leave their poppies in tribute.

Men and women who have fought in our country’s name deserve our help and understanding; they are now fighting their own battles after selflessly fighting ours. But a few things are worth the risk.

Maj.-Rev. Jim Short read the prayer of remembrance, recalling those who died at home and overseas, but also those who came home injured. We also honour those Canadians who have worked to prevent the tragedies of war in global peacekeeping operations around the globe.

Maj. Alfred Wood, the event co-organizer, told Xinhua that it was important to come together on this day “because the Chinese-Canadian community needs to appreciate the sacrifices that veterans, especially World War I and World War II veterans, of Canada, have made in the building of Canada”. He and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, greeted Sheila Anderson, this year’s Silver Cross mother representing all mothers who have lost children in military service, at the national service.

She leaned on a cane as she placed her wreath.

It all took place over an emotional hour and half that brought Belleville to a standstill and offered spectators an opportunity to reflect on men and women who sacrificed their lives in conflicts spanning from the First World War to the present day. There were nearly 2,000 civilians who were killed and 9,000 who were wounded on December 6, 1917, and over 20,000 people were left homeless or without adequate housing, when the population of Halifax was only 50,000.

For more information on Veterans’ Week commemorative ceremonies and… “It involves the military and only the military – not high school bands and clowns and twirlers”.