THUNDER BAY – One hundred years ago, the conflict dubbed the war to end all wars came to a close.
A century later, the world has yet to learn its lesson, future conflicts costing millions upon millions of live and the threat of war constantly lingering over the political horizon.
Thunder Bay veteran Roy Lamore, who served at the tail end of the Second World War, said despite war continuing as a reality, he was heartened to see such a large crowd turn out on Sunday morning to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Waverley Park cenotaph.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” the 92-year veteran said following the annual outdoor event paying tribute to Canadian soldiers, sailors and air personnel on the city’s north side.
“After the war we had the same type of people coming. But it’s just wonderful to see the kids and the spectators. It just makes you feel so great that they’re here and they are the ones that remember.”
Lamore said this year’s ceremony was especially significant, given that it’s been 100 years since the armistice to end the First World War was signed.
“I guess every war is important, but the First and Second World War, we lost so many young people. It just makes you wonder. Coming out today gives you that feeling, we still remember. And that’s the biggest thing, to let these people know that we do,” Lamore said, adding he’s been pushing for years to get more about Canada’s role in war into Thunder Bay schools.
Robert Cutbush, the vice-president of Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Provincial Command, was the master of ceremonies on Sunday and said the 100th anniversary is important to remember, given how many locals went off to war overseas and never returned.
“A lot of young lads and lasses left the old Port Arthur and Fort William to go overseas and fight for king and country. We lost quite a few and quite a few came back suffering physical and mental disabilities,” Cutbush said, the snow gently falling around him.
“Today it’s very important on this 100th anniversary of the armistice that we remember the service and the sacrifice that those young lads and lasses laid down their lives for.”
Unfortunately, he added, it doesn’t look like the world has learned from its mistakes of a century ago.
“We’ve had a couple more regional conflicts, so the short answer is, I don’t think so,” he said.
Also on hand for the ceremonies was retired naval reservist Les Newman who spent 42 years in service to Canada.
He said he was proud to have served and glad so many came out for the anniversary celebration.
“To mark the centennial as something so significant as the armistice is incredibly important when you look at the results of the First World War – the number of people that were killed, it was well over one million people killed,” Newman said.
“It’s something we have to keep remembering because there are none of those veterans left. So we have to remember on their behalf.”
The ceremony began with the Silver Cross mother, Carol Klukie, laying the first wreath at the cenotaphy, followed by dozens more presented by organizations and politicians from around the city. It closed with an rifle salute, the playing of Taps, a flyover and a minute of silence in tribute to Canada’s fallen.
