Standing shoulder to shoulder in Canadian pride, a bell in the Peace Tower sounded the 11th hour and two minutes of silence fell over the tens of thousands of people in attendance at the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in downtown Ottawa.

More than 50,000 people—tightly packed and sprawled in every direction from the National War Memorial amidst heightened security—travelled from near and far to pay their respects and remember the more than 1.5 million Canadians who served throughout our nation’s history and the 118,000 who left their homes and families to never return.

Soaking up the unusually warm temperatures for November, young and old, families, serving members and veterans, began lining up behind the barricades as early as 6 a.m. with poppies pinned proudly to their lapels, Canadian and homemade flags, flowers, signs and even personal mementos to remind them of the loved ones they lost.

Their thoughts drifted to familiar faces and names—a son, a comrade, a grandfather, great grandfather, a sister, a fiancé—and also to Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who just three weeks before was shot dead while standing ceremonial guard at the very memorial they gathered around.

“There’s so many that I’ve lost. Every year it gets a little bit more heart tugging to remember all the people that have gone,” said 86-year-old Donald Carrington, who, originally from Hamilton, was a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, and then served in the regular forces with the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps. “Especially this year I think of Cpl. Cirillo who was from my regiment. I had to come down and pay my respects to him and to all those fellows up there.”

As the second gun of the 30th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, broke the silence, a piper’s lament and trumpeter’s rouse followed. Overhead, a flypast of two CF-18s roared past as Legion Dominion President Tom Eagles recited the Act of Remembrance in English, followed by Legion Grand President Larry Murray in French and Aboriginal Veteran Alex Maurice in Michif.

New to this year’s ceremony was the re-dedication of the National War Memorial. Dates of the South African War and the Afghanistan mission were added to the memorial and the inscription “In Service To Canada” is now emblazoned on the granite face to recognize all those who served. The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), whose grandfather King George VI first unveiled the memorial to 100,000 people in 1939, read a message from Queen Elizabeth II, and Governor General David Johnston delivered a speech as well.

“And now here we stand, and here we shall remain: unshaken in resolve; grateful in remembrance of those who have sacrificed; rededicated, like this memorial, to our eternal duty: peace and freedom—the very soul of our nation,” he concluded.

Following the rededication of the memorial, Brigadier-General John Fletcher, Chaplain General to the Canadian Armed Forces and Honorary Chaplain of the Legion’s Dominion Command, offered prayers.

As the opening words of In Flanders Fields rose from the Ottawa Children’s Choir, Princess Anne and Johnston began the wreath-placing ceremony. Silver Cross Mother Gisèle Michaud paused for a moment longer with her hand to her chest after she placed a wreath on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in the line of duty. Her son Master Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment and died July 4, 2009, from critical injuries sustained in the Panjwaii District southwest of Kandahar.

Other members of the viceregal party who placed a wreath included Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino, Chief of the Defence Staff General Tom Lawson, Dominion President Tom Eagles, Speaker of the Senate Noël Kinsella, and youth representatives Sarah Jessica Butler, Joo Hee Chung, Darynn Bednarczyk and Hareem Masroor. The youth representatives were assisted by CPO1 David Ficht (Sea Cadet), C/CWO Teegan Martin (Army Cadet), and WOII David Joiner (Air Cadet).

Dominion Honorary Chaplain Rabbi Reuven Bulka delivered the benediction saying the memorial had been violated, yet it remains a sacred place. “We love our troops!” he said to thunderous applause from the crowd.

The ceremony drew to a close as the Massed Pipes and Drums and the Canadian Armed Forces Central Band and Governor General’s Foot Guards played for the march past of veterans and military contingents.

Although the official ceremony was over, the crowd lingered for hours afterward to slowly move toward the memorial and carpet the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a sea of red poppies.

Editor’s note: A full report on the National Remembrance Day Ceremony will appear in the January/February 2015 issue of Legion Magazine.

Check out Who Are You Remembering Today, where longtime and first-time attendees share their heartfelt thoughts.

https://legionmagazine.com/2014/11/who-are-you-remembering-today/