'A great deal of respect': Remembrance Day ceremonies honour veterans across B.C.
Sombre memorials held across the province, with the premier expressing solidarity with all who serve
B.C.'s sombre Remembrance Day ceremonies show that British Columbians "stand in solidarity" with those who serve and served in the Armed Forces, Premier David Eby said.
In Prince George, more than 2,000 people filled several blocks surrounding the cenotaph on the lawn of city hall. This year's ceremony went ahead thanks to an anonymous $18,000 donation, which was needed to pay for associated costs.
Sheldon Clare, president of Legion Branch 43, said he was "in tears" after receiving the money and other donations from the public once word got out about the need for funds.
"It shows a great deal of respect to the veteran community and the need to have the sacrifice of all of these soldiers recognized," Clare said in an interview with CBC News.
For Second World War Merchant Navy veteran Percival (Percy) Smith, Remembrance Day is not mainly about his comrades-in-arms who came home from war — but about those who perished.
"It's about the thousands of service men and women who didn't come back," Smith, 100, told CBC News while attending ceremonies at Vancouver's Victory Square wearing his medals and a poppy. "The amount of civilians who died for no reason at all, men, women and children ... I certainly think about them, rather than us who were very fortunate enough to survive the war."
And as he and other veterans reflected on Canada's past, several expressed concern about ongoing armed conflicts in other parts of the world today.
Smith said the current wave of bloodshed in the Middle East has brought up many painful memories.
"Right now we have places in Gaza and Israel in the Middle East, nothing has changed. What did we accomplish?" he asked.
"I hope our children and our grandchildren will make this a better place to live."
Hundreds also gathered in Cranbrook, where veteran Rob Bott spoke about his service as captain of the 552 Air Cadet Squadron.
"Lost a lot of people that I served with, in various exercises," he said. "I lost a brother actually ... Remembrance Day means quite a bit for me."
Premier Eby said in a statement that the large number of events held across the province show how important Remembrance Day is to every region.
He said the ceremonies are a reminder of British Columbians' "solidarity with active service members as well as veterans" in every community.
"In these uncertain times, we must not forget the terrible sacrifice made by too many," Eby said in the statement. "Conflicts around the world threaten people's lives, freedom and security.
"It is important we recognize the sacrifices of those who commit their lives to the service of our country."
WATCH | Grade 12 student Jacqueline Murray recites "They Do Not Chill Us So"
In Kamloops, many families with children attended the local events, which included a flyover by the 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Founded in the Second World War, it is nicknamed the "Moose Squadron," after Kamloops-born pilot John "Moose" Fulton, who died during a European operation in 1942.
Other services across B.C. included the province's official Remembrance Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Victoria Cenotaph at the B.C. Legislature, which was preceded by a parade to the site.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Andrew Kurjata, Sohrab Sandhu, and The Canadian Press.