East Ferris hold Remembrance Day ceremony ahead of Nov. 11
The bagpipes played, the wreaths were laid, heads were bowed, appreciation expressed in silence.
East Ferris’ Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the cenotaph Wednesday and it showed a sign of courtesy, respect and gratefulness.
"I served in Korea. It's a part of my life being in the service,” said Royal Canadian Navy veteran Bob Irving.
“I went over after the ceasefire in 1953-1955."
The ceremony was attended by students from Ferris Glen Public School and Ecole Saint-Thomas D'aquin. Two students participated in the ceremony reading ‘In Flanders Fields’ in French and English.
Leading up to Remembrance Day, they were studying the war and the sacrifices made. Also in attendance: legion members, delegates, the public, veterans and soldiers from Petawawa.
"We’ve been taught some of the wars that have happened and how many soldiers have died," said Grade 4 Student Mya Sears.
Sears’ classmate, Sabrina Yackobeck, said it’s important for students to learn the history and significance of Remembrance Day.
"It's very, very good for us to learn about it so we can teach our kids about it and the next generation,” she said.
Irving said his heart filled with joy seeing the children, poppies pinned to their coats, come out to the cenotaph and pay their respects.
"It's great to see the kids,” he said. “It brings me back to my years in school and we had Remembrance Day ceremonies.”
East Ferris Mayor Pauline Rochefort paid tribute to a close friend, Second World Ward veteran Graham Elliot, who died 10 days before his 98th birthday.
"He was one of the soldiers that had landed on Normandy Beach in 1944,” she said.
“But unfortunately he passed away."
East Ferris always holds its ceremony a few days before Nov. 11 because some legion members, delegates and veterans enjoy going to other ceremonies that day and the municipality doesn't want to conflict with their schedule.
"We must never forget that our freedom is not free and today is a very important day to reflect on that,” said Rochefort.
As all of Canada looks toward a somber day of reflection on Friday, the students said it best.
“Remember the soldiers who fought for our freedom,” said Grade 4 student Olivia Berter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.