Seeing the massive turnout at a local Remembrance Day ceremony, veteran Roy Lamore said seeing so many faces young and old in the crowd was fabulous.
“I’ve never seen so many turned out,” the Second World War veteran said. “This is what we want to instill in the younger generation and today was all generations.”
Lamore said it’s a proud day for veterans when so many people, like the ones at Waverly Park, turn out to honour their comrades. But it’s also a sorrowful day when he thinks that along with past wars, the recent war in Afghanistan has created more veterans and more war dead.
“It’s a sad day and it’s a jubilant day,” he said.
It’s also important to remember that after 11 a.m., the day is meant to be a celebration. Veterans will gather at local legions, a place where they can talk about the serious aspects of the wars they fought in peace.
“They’ve still got it down deep,” he said.
As a past president of the legion, Lamore said people need to support the organization now more than ever.
“Get into the legions and help. That’s where it helps. The branches are doing their darndest to stay alive and we need their assistance to carry the torch for as long as we can do it,” Lamore said.
Dave Louden’s father fought in the Second World War. He brought his three children to Waverly Park to honour the grandfather they never got to know. The fact that the ceremony was on a Sunday meant that for the first time he could commemorate the day with his children, who are usually in school.
“It’s something for them to remember and remember what went on,” he said.
Louden’s son Calum, 10, said seeing the ceremony was a great way to honour veterans like his grandfather.
“We will never forget this,” he said. “It was really awesome to be here for the first time.”
