It was a somber and snowy Remembrance Day service at Victoria Park on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Despite the snow that was part of a snow squall warning earlier in the week, Londoners came out en masse to remember Canada’s military, both living and fallen.
Early Tuesday morning, before the service began, city crews worked around the clock to clear the cenotaph of snow.
Around 10:30 a.m., a parade composed of Canadian military, cadets, police officers, firefighters and paramedics left the Delta Hotel London Armouries on Dundas Street, marching to the cenotaph at the intersection of Dufferin Avenue and Wellington Street.
Attending the service were veterans from Parkwood Hospital, who watched in buses parked at the intersection, as well as from an upper floor of city hall to keep them out of the elements.
At 11:00 a.m, the sounds of the bugle, played by David Cunningham, echoed “The Last Post” off of buildings in the area. Following that, two minutes of silence was observed to remember the men and women who served and continue to serve Canada.
After the two minutes of silence, the bagpipes of London police piper Scott Shaw, played “Lament,” followed by the playing of “Rouse” on the bugle.
Wreaths were then laid at the cenotaph. Silver Cross Mother Angela Cameron-Jolly and Carolyn Wilson laid the first wreath, accompanied by Colonel Blair Ashford.
Government and military dignitaries also laid wreaths at the cenotaph. Those in attendance included MP Peter Fragiskatos, MPP Terrence Kernaghan, London mayor Josh Morgan, police chief Thai Truong, commander Janet Lang, RCMP chief superintendent Chris Leather and Ietze Kerkoff.
Jerry Juraszko, a retired Canadian army Captain, also laid a wreath. He shared with XFM News why attending services every Nov. 11 is so important to him.
“Like anyone that’s served, basically, it gives me an opportunity to remember all the people that I served with. And many of them are not here anymore,” he said. “That’s really the key.”
Juraszko said he has served 45 years in the military, spanning careers in both the reserve and regular force.
He is a member of the Order of Military Merit, and said he has served in various places both domestically and overseas.
“I’ve served in places like Calgary, Petawawa, Germany for four years, Camp Borden. Kingston, and then back here in London, and then finally up to Petawawa again, and then once more I came back to London, where I retired.” he said.
The service concluded with a march past back to the armories, reviewed by Commander Lang and accompanied by mayor Morgan.
After the service, the public and members participating in the service were invited to a reception at Centennial Hall.
