A resounding cannon shot in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Monday morning marked the start of Remembrance Day commemorations in Canada.
The armistice signed on November 11, 1918 put an end to the fighting of the First World War at 11 a.m. Canadians gathered across the country on November 11, 2024 at 11 a.m. to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the values and principles of the country.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau laid a wreath at the National War Memorial. He was accompanied by the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, and this year’s National Mother of the Silver Cross, Maureen Anderson of New Brunswick.
Mme Anderson is representing the mothers of all military personnel killed in the line of duty this year. His two sons, Sergeants Ron and Ryan Anderson, fought in Afghanistan; they later died after battling, this time, post-traumatic stress disorder.
The mournful sound of “Last Call” was also heard around countless other cenotaphs and monuments across the country Monday, as Canadians took a moment, “at 11 a.m. on the 11th of the 11th,” to pay silent tribute to all fallen soldiers. The ceremonies also paid tribute to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who continue to serve today.
“Throughout our history, the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces have protected our country,” Mr. Trudeau wrote in a publication on X. “Some have returned from combat forever transformed. Others stayed there. We will always be indebted to them and we will never forget. »
The Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces, Guy Bélisle, recalled that Canadians came together on this day to recognize “the courage of all the people who served, leaving behind their loved ones to defend something greater than themselves.” “themselves”.
“Their action reminds us of the strength of unity. It is in this unity that we find hope and resilience in the face of the challenges that our world continues to face,” said the chaplain in Ottawa. “Let us be shaped by the lessons of the past. From conflict we learn the power of love, a love that binds families, communities and all humanity. »
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that the number of Canadian veterans currently stands at 7,300, comprising 6,142 men and 1,158 women, according to 2021 census data.
Royal Canadian Legion President Berkley Lawrence, 70, said Monday the day gives citizens “an opportunity to remember what happened and how we get our freedom today today.”
François Legault in Montreal
Prime Minister François Legault participated Monday morning in the Remembrance ceremony at the Armistice Cenotaph, Place du Canada, in downtown Montreal. Accompanied by his wife, Isabelle Brais, he came to decorate the cenotaph with flowers to pay tribute to “those who fought for our freedom”.
“Let us pay tribute to our veterans, as well as the women and men who serve to protect us,” he wrote on the X network. “Thank you for their bravery and dedication. Let us never forget their sacrifices. »
Montreal federal deputies Mélanie Joly and Marc Miller, as well as the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, were also present at this ceremony at the Armistice cenotaph.
In St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, it was the first Remembrance Day to be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This soldier fought and died in France during the First World War, and his remains were returned to Newfoundland this year for burial.
In Halifax, Joanne Geddes, district commander of the Nova Scotia and Nunavut Legions, was touched to see how many people of all ages came to the cenotaph despite the wind and rain.
A thought for comrades
In Ottawa, Paul Baiden, who served during the Cold War, had a thought for his comrades on the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure “and for all those who lost their lives.”
“Every day, my group gets smaller,” he said, with a tear in his eye. From our crew […] there are maybe 20 members left. »
The sunny skies turned gray during the ceremony in Ottawa and a light rain began to fall — a setting that matched the solemn atmosphere of the moment.
John Preece, 98, who served in the Second World War, said it was difficult to explain what it was like to be on the front lines, “when you’re dealing with someone who shoots you, that you don’t even know him and he doesn’t know you. And it’s not very pleasant, that’s all I can say. It’s truly a horrible scene. »
John Young, a 66-year-old retired chief warrant officer, asked Canadians to think about the soldiers in Latvia who left behind spouses and children — and all those high school and kindergarten graduation ceremonies that ‘they will fail.
“This is the commitment that the people who wear the uniform willingly agreed to make,” he recalled. “I think of my own mother: I can’t imagine the anguish she felt when my brother and I were deployed at the same time. In her last years of life, she confided to us: “I didn’t sleep when you were gone”. »
