Despite the cold and snowy weather, hundreds of Londoners came out to honour Canada’s veterans and war dead on Monday.
The city's annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park began with the Veterans' parade. Veterans, Canadian Forces personnel, police officers, and cadets marched from the Delta Armouries, up Wellington Street to the Cenotaph arriving at 10:45 a.m.
As they took their place around the monument, Master of Ceremony Jim Swan reminded the large crowd of the sacrifice made by all of those who have fought and continue to fight for their country.
"Those who served and are serving, who took the oath know that if they had been in another time and circumstance it might be them we mourn," said Swan. "So as we join them in remembering, we join them in spirit of condolence and support. We join them today with deep respect and thankfulness for the souls of each lost in battle and for the souls who carried the scars of battle until their death."
The Catholic Central Chamber Choir led the crowd in the singing of O Canada. The national anthem was followed by the Last Post performed by David Cunningham on the same bugle that his grandfather used to play the traditional music over one hundred years ago at Vimy Ridge.
The corner of Wellington Street and Dufferin grew quiet as the crowd then marked two minutes of silence.
A handful of Second World War and Korean War veterans sat nearest the monument with family. Among them was George Beardshaw, who served in the Second World War with the Queens Own Rifles of Canada.
"When the war was just about over, the last 28 days I was a prisoner of war," said the 96-year-old, who had enlisted at the age of 19.
Beardshaw and his platoon were sent to liberate the town of Deventer, Netherlands. At 3 a.m., under the cover of darkness Beardshaw's platoon was to sneak into the town and meet up with another platoon on the bridge.
"We got to the bridge, I thought they were our guys on the other side, but they were Germans. You couldn't see too much in the dark. So they got us," said Beardshaw. "They killed one guy, they shot him dead. Two other guys were wounded."
Beardshaw said as the Germans marched him and 14 other surviving members of his platoon through the town, he was convinced this would be the end for him.
"I thought they were going to shoot me, but no, they took us into town and their big shot there asked me a few questions. He said 'George the war is over for you. You'll be nice and comfortable. You can sit the rest of the war out,'" said Beardshaw.
As he looked around at the crowd who had gathered for the Remembrance Day service Beardshaw said he had just one hope.
"That they just remember all the beautiful young men who went over there and died for our freedom. So we can live the way we live today," said Beardshaw.
Silver Cross Mother Carolyn Wilson and Derrick McClinchey of the Canadian Army Veteran Motorcycle Unit laid the first of dozens of wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph. Wilson's son, Trooper Mark Wilson, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2006. Wreaths were also laid by London Mayor Ed Holder, Police Chief Steve Williams, local MPs Peter Fragiskatos, Kate Young, and Lindsay Mathyssen, local MPPs Terrence Kernaghan, Teresa Armstrong, and Peggy Sattler.
Five white buses filled with veterans from the Parkwood Institute led the parade away from the Cenotaph at the end of the ceremony.
Social gatherings at Centennial Hall and all local Legion branches are expected to continue throughout the afternoon.
