From RCMP officers in their Red Serge to girl guide and boy scout troupes to families of all ages, Prince George residents came out in droves Monday to remember our fallen Canadian soldiers and pay tribute to veterans.
It was standing room only at the Civic Centre for a 70-minute ceremony and thousands lined the streets downtown for the veterans parade leading to the cenotaph. People showed their appreciation through applause and cheers as the veterans made their way to City Hall, prior to the solemn ceremony to remember those who never made it home.
As people filed into the Civic Centre, images of war and those that served in it flashed upon the big screen. The names of those who served in wars through the 20th and 21st centuries reminded those in attendance of the sacrifices made in the past and the ongoing burden members of the forces face when deployed overseas.
Legion Branch 43 president Bruce Gabriel said Remembrance Day is an important symbol, but he encouraged people to take the messages they heard on Monday and carry them on throughout the year.
"If we only honour our mothers on mother's day, we would be remiss," Gabriel told the crowd. "It's also important that we remember and support our veterans throughout the year, they need our commitment and our encouragement. We need to remember that we have the freedom to live in the greatest country in the world because so many of our veterans paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf."
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond encouraged all those in attendance to take time to look and reflect upon the names of the soldiers who died for Canada's freedom, whether engraved on plaques or on the flagpoles which lined the parade route.
"They're not just flagpoles, they represent one flag for each Canadian lost in Afghanistan," she said. "Remember that each name represents someone that was loved, they were sons and daughters, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, friends, parents and most importantly they are our heroes."
This year organizers paid special tribute to aboriginal veterans. Guest speaker Candice George took time to acknowledge the sacrifice made her uncles Frederick George and Andrew George, Sr., during their service with the Canadian military.
As she spoke the names and images of aboriginal veterans from northern B.C. flashed up on the screen at the Civic Centre.
"My uncles served proudly in the Canadian military, much like all aboriginal veterans," George said. "They served their country with honour and pride - through this experience they've gained and lost many friends."
However aboriginal veterans, like the George brothers, had to deal with racial discrimination both when they served in the forces and upon their return home.
"I want you to know that even though they faced this discrimination and exclusion, much like all aboriginal veterans, every year they stood proudly with honour and dignity at the cenotaph," George said.
Prior to the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph, an aboriginal drumming group honoured their veterans with a song.
The great turnout this year was on par with previous years and helped by the beautiful late fall weather.
"It was gorgeous, it was a gorgeous crowd and everything went very, very well," legion zone commander John Scott said as the parade dispersed back at the Civic Centre.
