THUNDER BAY — Scotlynn Ross says Remembrance Day is an important chance to respect military members who have served their country, especially those who died in war.
The 12-year-old Bishop Gallagher School student was joined by dozens of other youngsters on Friday at the Waverley Park cenotaph, where the annual hour-long Remembrance Day ceremony was held, led by the laying of the Silver Cross Mother’s wreath by Carol Klukie, whose son Josh was killed 16 years ago in Afghanistan.
“It was beautiful,” Scotlynn said, realizing that in six short years, were there to be another conflict, she could be called on to serve.
It’s a pretty sobering thought, she said.
“I’m shocked, because I couldn’t imagine knowing that you might not come back home.”
Classmate Austin Kitchkeesick, a Grade 7 student, said he wanted a chance to say thanks to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and those who continue to serve today.
“I think it’s important to wear the poppy to support all the people who have lost their brothers, their sisters, their moms, their dads, their grandmas, their grandpas – everyone,” Austin said.
About 500 people were on hand for Friday’s ceremony, that included a prayer for soldiers who have fallen, a 21-gun salute and the playing of the Last Post as the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month arrived.
George Romick, second vice-president of the Port Arthur Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, said it was humbling to see so many people surrounding the cenotaph.
“We have the soldiers come out. The cadets come out. We have the Navy League cadets come out and then we had eight or nine busloads of students from Bishop Gallagher School and other schools that attended. It’s great for them to come out to be part of the Remembrance Day service and to also understand what their great-grandfathers did, their grandfathers did or what their fathers did in service to their country.”
Romick said after last year’s rain and COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, it was fantastic to see the crowds return.
“I think everybody, because of the COVID pandemic, stayed indoors and this was the opportunity for everybody to come back out for one hour of their day to be a part of the Remembrance Day ceremony here,” he said.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu was among the first to lay a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph and said the number of people who attended the ceremony shows that the public still remembers the sacrifices that so many service members made in the service of their country and in service of freedom and democracy.
“It is always heartwarming, no matter what the weather, to look out and see a crowd of people that are taking time out of their day to spend an hour and a bit of their day and be there for families, like Carol Klukie, who has personally lost a son, and be there to honour the generations of people who have served this country,” Hajdu said.
