THUNDER BAY – Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The First World War veterans are all gone.
Yet despite the battles living in the distant past, generations ago, and temperatures hovering well below the freezing points, the crowds still came to Waverley Park on Monday to pay tribute to Canada’s fallen soldiers, sailor and airmen, who gave their lives in sacrifice for their country.
Veteran Ken Cannon was among the crowd, standing at the edge of the stairs leading up to a cenotaph ringed in wreaths, saluting the colour party and all who followed, including police, cadets and active service military, as the sombre 90-minute ceremony came to a close.
It’s important to remember, the 88-year-old said.
“It was an exceptional crowd for the weather. I’m very happy to see more and more people coming out. It’s good that they remember why we are here,” said Cannon, who served in Thunder Bay at the Armoury, where he trained troops to go into battle.
“We’re trying to do our best to keep it in front of the public’s eye. I think it’s maybe becoming a little more meaningful to them than it was a few years ago.”
Maj. Christian Borland, the senior nursing officer and commanding officer of 18 Field Ambulance in Thunder Bay, was deployed three times to Afghanistan and once to Bosnia, attached to the United States Navy hospital ship, the Mercy.
He said the world must remember the ravages of war.
“It is important. It’s our history. It’s Canada’s history and we should know it and we should honour it and certainly respect it, respect those who have gone out before us,” Borland said.
“Sacrifice is what shaped our country and made it what it is today. History is ever evolving. There will be other conflicts, other wars, other missions that Canada will be involved in.”
Rob Cutbush, vice-president Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Provincial Command with the Royal Canadian Legion, said honouring the past is the best way forward.
“I think it’s very important to keep educating and reminding our younger generations the importance of remembering our past battles, our wars, our peacekeeping missions, some police actions, humanitarian aid,” Cutbush said. “We have soldiers, sailors and airmen that are deployed all over the world from Canada and with the nature of their work, they could come back walking, but they could be injured inside. It’s important to have a day like today to remember the sacrifices that our sailors, soldiers and airmen do for the defence of this country.”
Monday’s ceremony including the laying of the traditional Silver Cross Mother wreath by Carol Klukie, whose son Josh was killed in 2006 in Afghanistan.
Several community and government groups followed with wreaths of their own. A four-plane flyover, the playing of Taps and a gun salute were also part of the annual event.
