Calgarians mark Remembrance Day in ceremonies across city
The Military Museums hosted around 2,000 people for its outdoor service
Calgarians gathered at a number of locations across the city for Remembrance Day ceremonies on Thursday to honour those who served.
The largest event took place at The Military Museums with both Premier Jason Kenney and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek in attendance.
"Let us be deliberate about remembrance to those who would have us forget. Let us renew this tradition after a century for a century to come. A tradition of profound remembrance reminding us 100 years from now of the good for which they fought and the evil that they suffered," said Kenney.
Over in the southeast, a smaller Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the cenotaph in Burnsland Cemetery, where many of Calgary's First World War veterans are buried.
Members of the Calgary Highlanders provided a guard of honour and observed a minute of silence at 11 a.m. while dozens of other participants stood by.
In attendance was Sgt. Wally Fong, who has been a reservist for 14 years. He says he hasn't known anyone personally who has given the "ultimate sacrifice" but that it is important to think about those who did.
"To honour past fallen and dead just reminds us of all the sacrifices that they made that enable us to live the life that we live today," he said.
Fred Butterworth brought along a wreath to the cemetery to honour his uncle who was killed during the Second World War.
He and his family have been attending the service since 2003.
"With all the troubles in the world and all the things that the Canadian soldiers have done over the years to help make the world a better place, it's time to remember that it's been a tough time for them," he said.
"They've been through some very horrific events, and they really need to be remembered for all the services they've given us over the years."
The Field of Crosses
The Field of Crosses is a five-acre visual tribute to the sacrifices made by the thousands of soldiers from southern Alberta. Every November, the crosses are placed in military cemetery formation by hundreds of volunteers on a piece of land along Memorial Drive.
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The Remembrance Day ceremony itself at the Field of Crosses was not open to the public this year due to COVID public health concerns, but it can be watched here.
The site reopened to the public at 2 p.m.
With files from Scott Dippel, Monty Kruger and Dave Gilson