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Photo by Curtis Galbraith
By Curtis Galbraith
Remembrance Day

Lest We Forget: Canada marking Remembrance Day

Nov 11, 2019 | 5:00 AM

We are remembering those who fought and died for Canada today.

It is Remembrance Day.

Grande Prairie historian Duff Crerar says the day still resonates because so many people have a connection to the military.

“We’re a small country. We have a lot of families with (a military) background, new Canadians perhaps that didn’t have family serving that still have an appreciation for what our veterans contributed to the freedom and the safety that we have. You know, we have a country which is supposed to be unmilitary, but so many people have connections through family or through their own serving members of their families today.”

Ten per cent of Canadians served in uniform during both World Wars. Canada’s population during World War I was 8-million. It was 11-million during World War II.

Crerar adds he is glad to see more Canadians visiting the battlefields where soldiers from our country waged war and also going to the graves of the fallen.

“I think that just shows us that connection of memory and family carries on, continues, and the young do want to know about the old and they still care, even though sometimes we think the young are ungrateful. In fact, they’re more grateful sometimes than those who are middle-aged.”

Crerar says Canadians are still serving in dangerous places like Iraq and Mali, plus this country has a fleet that goes to sea. He is also glad to see those who served as peacekeepers getting more recognition in recent years.

The Grande Prairie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be holding its Remembrance Day ceremony at Revolution Place again this year.

Doors open to the public at 9:45 a.m. with the ceremony starting at 10:45 a.m.

Admission is free.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans will be holding a ceremony at the cenotaph in Jubilee Park again this year as well.

The parade from Trinity Lutheran Church will start at 10:50 a.m.

by Curtis Galbraith