Though Nov. 11 carries a lot of weight in the Lebel household, recognizing the service of the country's men and women in the military is not confined to Remembrance Day.
Not when Marion Lebel can count up to seven family members who are wearing, or have worn an Armed Forces uniform, in the last four decades.
It started with Lebel's eldest son, Harold, who joined the Army at 18. Already married with a baby, Lebel said Harold "started out life fast."
"[Harold] and his cousin went in together, and I think it was on a whim," Lebel said. "That was a bit of a shock."
It was a successful move for Harold that set up a trend for younger family members.
"He did well with it and he went on to a good trade. He was a mechanical linesman at the brewery, he set up the line there," said Lebel.
Harold died in 1995 from a heart attack.
Lebel had uncles who served in the the military, but didn't grow up involved directly in the service.
"My parents had seen so much of the war," she said. "It was rough after the Second World War and the Korean War."
Following her older brother, Suzanne Lebel Bay, joined the Air Force at the age of 18.
"She went because there was really nothing for her here in Prince George that she wanted to get into," said Lebel.
This year, Suzanne was awarded a Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal for service above and beyond the call of duty.
"She's our tough one," Lebel said of her daughter, who married a fellow serviceman, recently retired Army Master Cpl. Christopher Bay, and had three children. After opting out of the Air Force, and having three children, Suzanne returned to service with the Army. "And she passed full honours at 38," Lebel said.
Suzanne's son and Lebel's grandson, Cpl. Norman Bay, joined the Air Force and lives in Winnipeg, where his wife Pvt. Melissa Bay is also in the Army.
Lebel's grandson, newly graduated Pvt. Shayne Lebel, is also stationed at Gagetown in the Army after leaving his job at a Prince George hotel.
"He talked to his aunt and he joined within a month. And he likes it," Lebel said.
Granddaughter Master Cpl. Leslie Bay serves in the Army and lives in Ottawa. She spent six months in Afghanistan two years ago.
"It's very interesting, their work," said Lebel.
It's work that has taken the family far from home. A visit to Ottawa this summer was the first face-to-face meeting Lebel had with her granddaughter in nine years.
But even though she misses them, Lebel doesn't begrudge her children and grandchildren the opportunities afforded to them.
"They grew up in a small community of Nukko Lake and then to branch out around the world - it's amazing," she said.
Even though she never saw it coming with her own children, Lebel said she has always had a healthy appreciation for the Armed Forces.
"I know one boy I worked with, he wanted to go in but his mom was totally against it. I couldn't make her understand that it's a good life. It's not all bad, it's not all shooting," she said. "There's a lot of really good young people in there right now."
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The Nov. 11 ceremony will begin at 9:15 a.m. at the Civic Centre, complete with pipes and drums, full military colour party, the Prince George Community Band, and the presenting of commemorative wreaths.
At 10:35, the mass will parade from the Civic Centre to the cenotaph at City Hall for the playing of Last Post and Reveille and the two minutes of silence that honours all victims and veterans of war.
A youth-focused reception will happen at the Civic Centre and an adult/veteran reception is set for the Connaught Centre once the formal outdoor ceremonies are finished.
