Remembrance Day.
7:31PM, November 12, 2006 - [ Permalink]
Saturday morning we got up just in time for the Remembrance Day ceremony up at the National War Memorial. Like most Remembrance Days in recent memory, it was cool, cloudy and raining.
We got there later than I had originally intended, but the night before Tracey had been out at the Elton John concert at the Palladium Corel Centre Scotia Bank Place and we didn't get to bed until at least three.
We could not get closer than parallel to the entrance of the Chateau Laurier, stuck in a sea of umbrellas. We could barely see the huge televisions that were set up (umbrellas take up plenty of vertical space) and we could barely hear the speeches, although we could hear the music well enough.
One of the things that strikes me when at this event is how Canadians sing the national anthem - not loudly or with great gusto.. Tracey thinks that it is because no one know the official words (which are partially in English and partially in French). She is probably at least partially right. I think it can be the way of which Canadians are proud. Quietly.
At 11:00, one of the canons fired, signaling the beginning of the two minutes of silence, and then again, at 11:02, for the end.
Then the canons began the 21 gun salute, wreaths were laid, the choir sang and a lone Hurricane (at least, I'm pretty sure that is what it was) flew over the proceedings - although other sources say there were two aircraft, I only saw one at a time.
Eventually, we (and others around us) were directed to move because the parade was going to start, so we walked away from the War Memorial and waited. Once parade started, we realized they were actually going down Rideau Street for a distance, so we walked down some more. I took a few pictures, but I didn't bring the good camera - just the old Kodak digital we have - if it gets wet, it isn't the end of the world - just of that camera.
I read at over at the Ottawa Citizen that between 17,000 people were in attendance. I wonder if that is more or less than last year.
On a related note, I was over at Rick Pali's site and followed the link to read the CBC article Petition calling for state funeral for the last WWI veteran, which you can fill out over here, which, of course, I signed.
Frequently, I think we as a nation don't spend enough time remembering. Students don't have a clue about our past - and if we do not know our past, does that not mean we will repeat the same mistakes again?
Someday, I would like to be able to visit the Canadian Vimy Memorial.
I will remember.
