Record turnout for Remembrance Day ceremonies
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Updated: November 15, 2009 2:04 PM
HUG Virginia Skea, whose son is currently serving in Afghanistan, gets a hug from Corp. Jessica Walker from CFB Trenton, Ontario.
A heavy fog hung over the city for the early part of the Remembrance Day Ceremonies in Williams Lake Wednesday but the sun broke through the mist beautifully just in time for the two-minute wave of silence and laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph at City Hall.
Whether it was fine weather or the fact that Canadians are currently serving in Afghanistan there was a full house of more than 400 people attending the ceremonies in the Gibraltar Room, and an equally large contingent of people who gathered at the Cenotaph. Many people continued on to the Legion Hall for lunch and camaraderie.
Royal Canadian Legion Cariboo Zone Commander Vivian MacNeil says the turn-out for Remembrance Day services was the largest she has ever seen here.
Several people who are currently serving with the Canadian military participated in the ceremonies including Chris Johnson, from Williams Lake who will be making his third tour in Afghanistan this winter. Johnson carried the Canadian flag in the colour party. He has made it home for the Remembrance Day Ceremonies for the past two years, and in those years carried the United Nations flag in the colour party.
In one of many moving moments during the ceremonies Virginia Skea broke down in tears as people gathered after the formal wreath laying ceremonies to place their poppy pins on the Cenotaph. She was given a spontaneous hug by Corp. Jessica Walker, from CFB Trenton in Ontario, who is currently in the Cariboo with her unit to repair radar equipment.
Virginia’s son Jeffrea has been serving in Afghanistan since September and his parents and family are naturally missing him and worried about him.
“I am very proud of my son,” Virginia says. “Sometimes he calls and it’s really good to hear his voice. Sometimes we e-mail, but it’s not the same as being able to hold him.”
