THUNDER BAY -- Generations young and old gathered on Friday at Waverley Park to pay tribute to the country’s veterans who gave their lives in battle.
Among the crowd of 2,000 or so who ringed the cenotaph for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony was 15-year-old Michael Fayrick, a Hammarskjold High School student, who said it’s important for Canadians to remember those sacrifices and keep them close to their hearts.
“I’m a history buff,” the youngster said, “so just coming down here and seeing the result of the horrible tragedy these things were is just powerful.”
Ray Dunn and Sandy Shaw both served in the reserves, Dunn actually signing up for a six-year stint in the Canadian army.
While he didn’t serve overseas, Dunn said it’s important to pay respect to those soldiers who did not make it home.
“I’m here to honour the work that they did at that time so we can be where we are now in our country and our living,” Dunn said.
Shaw also had a personal connection to Canada’s war efforts, his father a First World War veteran who fought at Vimy Ridge.
He grew up hearing the tales of war first-hand from his father.
“He went over for one year, he thought, and left Guelph Agricultural College and thought he’d go over there, have some fun, drink some beer and chase some ladies, shoot a few Germans and come home and go back to school,” Shaw said. “He had no idea of what he was going to face.”
Shaw also had a cousin, Douglas Wallace, who was killed serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War.
His mother later became the Silver Cross Mother.
“That was the day she came to realize that her son was never going to burst through the door again. That’s one of the reasons I’m here. And certainly, yes, we are a free nation. We have differences of opinion. We solve them through debate, rather than with guns,” Shaw said.
Robert Cutbush, District 8 Commander with the Royal Canadian Legion, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command, said too many members of the Canadian military did not come home.
Remembrance Day is a chance to keep their memories alive.
“It’s to remind Thunder Bay about their services. It’s a very important day for remembrance, but also to remember the serving personnel who are still overseas right now too,” Cutbush said.
Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu called Remembrance Day an important part of Canada’s history.
“We’ve had brave men and women supporting our country, defending our country, defending the rights of our citizens, but not only that, contributing to peace and security around the world,” she said. “So it’s very important we take the time out of our busy schedules and recognize their contributions.”
Friday’s ceremony included the laying of the first wreath by Silver Cross Mother Carol Klukie and the traditional moment of silence at 11 a.m.
