Remembrance Day ceremonies returned to their pre-pandemic panache November 11 at the Prince George Civic Centre and at the Cenotaph.
There were hundreds of people in attendance and as those people were settling into their seats to look upon the big screen’s message of Lest We Forget while the Prince George Community Band played, so very many emotions drifted over that sea of grateful faces.
There was a widow of one the many highly decorated veterans with her tissue at the ready. She knew that this of all days was the time to let her grief, gratitude and respect spill forth as Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes by Pipes & Drums Prince George.
A young family was seated in the first section’s back row and I saw a young mom, flanked by her two children and her husband.
I raised my camera hoping to capture the lovely family in profile as they listened intently to Silver Cross Mother Lorraine Matters as she spoke about the tragic loss of her son, Greg Matters, but the young mom became aware of what I was doing so with an apologetic smile I lowered my camera.
“You caught me at a bad moment,” Krista Watkins said after the ceremony when I approached her to see if I could chat with her about why this Remembrance Day ceremony meant so much to her.
“As a mother hearing Lorraine Matters story about the loss of her son – it was so raw and today of all days it was so touching,” Krista said.
During her speech Mrs. Matters unnecessarily apologized in advance for getting emotional.
“But the pain of losing a child never goes away,” Mrs. Matters said. “Time has helped but my heart remains broken.”
Mrs. Matters talked about her son’s favourite things like Christmas, good chocolate and enjoying a hearty laugh and what a champion he was for vulnerable people in the community who could not defend themselves.
He hated bullies, Mrs. Matters added.
When son Greg returned from a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia he displayed symptoms of what the family would come to learn was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by what he had seen and experienced during his service, Mrs. Matters explained.
“We were so grateful he sought help,” Mrs. Matters recalled. “Within a few sessions we saw a huge change in Greg’s personality. We could see that we were getting our old Greg back again. He was moving past the trauma that had haunted him since Bosnia, was planning community events, started volunteering and was studying at the university.”
Mrs. Matters had to pause often during her speech as she was overcome with emotion.
“Sadly on Sept. 10 of 2012 Greg lost his life due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – and it wasn’t suicide,” Mrs. Matters said.
“Greg died as a result of a lack of understanding and a lack of compassion at the hands of those who should know best. Ten years have passed since we lost Greg so tragically. Thankfully now there is a better understanding of mental health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder throughout our services and our community. We are now more comfortable talking about mental health and as a result fewer families suffer in silence and reach out for the help they so desperately need and the help is more available now. As much as it hurts I believe Gregory’s death was not in vain, Gregory’s life and death have made a difference and he will always be cherished by all who knew him.”
Young mom Krista took Mrs. Matters words to heart and shared that her grandfather served in the Navy.
“And my Dad was RCMP and now I work for the RCMP,” Krista said as husband Kefyn, son Dylan, 10 and daughter Kayleigh, 8, sat quietly with her as they had throughout the whole ceremony. “My colleagues are marching today as well and I have this overwhelming feeling – we are all so fortunate – and it just really got to me today. Being a mom I know we’re so lucky to have had everybody serve so we could have this life – not only for myself but for my kids and the next generation.”
The Remembrance Day ceremonies continued with three youth overcoming obvious nerves to bravely say a few words in front of the large audience.
Sgt. Kael Frederick from 396 City of Prince George Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron recited Flanders Fields while Antonia Tennert read her poem A Poppy Whispers which won the Legion’s Dominion Command 2021 Intermediate poetry contest. Sydney Jackson recited her essay Remembrance Day which won the Legion’s BC/Yukon Command 2022 – Intermediate essay contest.
Dignitaries gave speeches, including MP Todd Doherty, MLA Shirley Bond, Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan, and Mayor Simon Yu.
Two minutes of silence were observed and the ceremony of marching on the colours and marching off the colours were performed.
The Civic Centre ceremony was followed by the parade over to the Cenotaph in front of Prince George City Hall where a brief outdoor service was conducted that included the laying of the wreaths.
The service included the Act of Remembrance, Indigenous drumming, and a fly past by several airplanes of a bygone era.
Following the cenotaph service, the parade reformed and proceeded to Dominion Street then to Sixth Avenue for an eyes right special salute which was received by RCMP Chief Superintendent Warren Brown.
Everyone was invited to after-ceremony celebrations. One geared for youth at the Civic Centre featured free refreshments and hot dogs, while the Legion was open to all ages for lunch.