Second World War veterans in their 90s defied the discomforts of age and stood proudly at the cenotaph at the B.C. legislature in Victoria Sunday morning, especially touched that this is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
Lewis Madley, served in the 225 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. He turns 97 on Friday. “The whole reason is to remember our comrades who never came back. That’s the most important thing.”
Victor E. Wong, 93, a third-generation Chinese-Canadian, enlisted with the Canadian Forces during the war and was assigned to the British special forces for a dangerous and secretive mission in Southeast Asia. “I have to make it here," he said. “This is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. It’s a memory for everybody,” said Wong. “I was thinking how proud I was that everyone was here to celebrate with us.
“I hate war,” said Wong. “I hope there will never be a world war again. I just pray to God that everybody will love each other and there will be no war. That’s all.”
O Canada was sung to start the ceremony followed by the playing of the Last Post and then at 11 a.m. two minutes of silence was observed.
Similar Remembrance Day events took place throughout the region and across Canada.
A 21-gun memorial salute by the 5th (B.C.) Field Regiment began and the raising of the Canadian flag which coincided with the reciting of the Act of Remembrance: "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."
B.C. Premier John Horgan said that in honour of Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, “we honour the courage and sacrifice of veterans, armed forces members and merchant marines who have served our country.
“We also recognize the families who have lost sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and cared for those who have returned with injuries, both visible and invisible,” Horgan said in a statement.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Paris, France, said in a statement: “Today, we honour every Canadian who has served and sacrificed so we may live free. We fall silent to acknowledge a debt we can never repay.”
One hundred years ago today, the Armistice between Germany and the Allies ended the First World War.
The country commemorates not only the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, but also Canada's hundred days, which was a turning point for Canada as a force on the world stage.
During the 100 Days Offensive, said Trudeau, Canadians spearheaded attacks that overcame the last lines of German defences and paved the way to final victory.
“These soldiers were the face and strength of a young country that sacrificed beyond measure and never faltered in its duty,” he said.
Since then, every generation of Canadian has stepped forward to serve and defend the principles of peace, freedom, and democracy.
Horgan said in moments of silence today, “we resolve to stand together against hate and violence, and work to build a more peaceful world. “
Rev. Andrew Gates, military chaplain, said a prayer at the cenotaph reflecting on the danger of the hateful acts and words continuing today after all those who have died to bring us peace.
“No gun ever made us free,” said Gates. “Those who died by them brought us time to make peace and God you are the judge of how well we’ve done.”
Typically, the lieutenant governor of British Columbia lays the first wreath but Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin was in Vancouver this Nov. 11.
Silver Cross mother Sheila Fynes, her husband Shaun and their son Michael laid the first wreath.
Their 28-year-old son, Stuart Langridge, killed himself March 15, 2008, having suffered post traumatic stress disorder after returning in 2005 from service in Bosnia and then in Afghanistan.
“It was 10 years ago but it feels like yesterday,” said Fynes.
The Fynes fought for years to have Stuart recognized as a fallen soldier, his death attributable to military service. Fynes would eventually become Victoria’s Silver Cross mother.
The Fynes were in Ottawa on Nov. 1 when they heard that Anita Cenerini of Winnipeg, Man., was announced the Silver Cross mother to Canada. She represents all mothers who lost children in the military, either in action, or over the course of normal duty, until the end of October, 2019.
“It’s huge, it means that all of our soldiers are being recognized and they are no longer disposable people who we would prefer not to talk about,” said Fynes. “They are all important, they all contributed and now they are all being recognized and it fills my heart with wonderful things,” said Fynes. “The tide has shifted."
Cenerini placed a wreath at the National War Memorial during a Remembrance Day ceremony.
Her son, Private Thomas Welch, was an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa. He joined the Forces in 2001, served as a gunner in Afghanistan in 2003, and died by suicide on May 8, 2004 just months after his return. It marked the first death by suicide of a Canadian soldier after returning home from the Afghanistan mission
To mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, tonight, as the sun goes down, the Bells of Peace Ceremony was performed at Fort Rodd Hill.
The ceremony started at Signal Hill in Halifax and continued across the country at sunset, ending at Fort Rodd Hill where General Arthur Currie conducted basic training before sending men to the First World War.
