Brock Weir |
While Aurora and indeed the rest of Canada came to a virtual standstill on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honour the nation's veterans and war dead, one Aurora veteran was singled out for a personal honour at the Town's cenotaph Friday.
More than 300 people gathered at the Aurora Cenotaph Friday morning for the annual Remembrance Day commemorations.
Bundled snugly against the cold and the wind, Aurorans young and old, including veterans and dignitaries, elders in wheelchairs and toddlers in strollers, gathered around the monument for the same solemn purpose.
As the colour guard paraded off the field and back down Yonge Street the lawn began to clear as residents went back to work, back to the school, or back to the Legion to get warm, but five-year-old Hazel Smith and her father Dan stayed back for a couple of minutes right near the entrance of the park.
A moment later, with poignant determination, young Hazel marched up to Aurora veteran Albert Arcand and presented him with a homemade card made with pencil and white paper.
The two - one who served his country in the Second World War and another who was born during Canada's most recent conflict - shared a special, moving moment.
Afterwards, when asked what she gave to Mr. Arcand, she told The Auroran the card was "for thanking a soldier for saving my dad's parents."
Hazel's grandparents, her father elaborated, lived in The Netherlands during the Second World War.
"We are thankful to the Canadians for the liberation of Holland," he said.
For Mr. Arcand, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the war and later spent 25 years serving with the Royal Canadian Engineers in Korea, Vietnam, and Laos, Remembrance Day signifies many things.
"It reminds me of all the people I served with for many years and I think it is a good thing for the young people to know what was happening in the past and to honour the veterans," he said.
Friday's services
followed the traditional, time honoured format of Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country and wreaths were laid on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario by MPP Frank Klees, the Town of Aurora by Mayor Geoffrey Dawe, the Townships of King and Whitchurch-Stouffville, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Royal Canadian Legion's Ladies' Auxiliary, Central York Fire Services, St. Andrew's College, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Trinity United Church, several Aurora families, and the Salvation Army, among others.
In his reading, Major Brian Bishop of the Salvation Army offered prayers "of thankfulness and care for those who have gone before us, those who died that we might live, who suffered and still suffer in the defence and the dignity of all people."
"This day we remember men and women who have struggled for peace, stood against evil, sought justice with the sacrifice of their blood, their bodies, their minds, their future, their lives as a result of conflict and the strife of war," said Major Bishop. "We pray for those who have been victimized, innocent casualties of hatred and terror, the children of the men and women whose eyes have seen the darkness of war. We pray for those who continue to place themselves in harm's way in order that peace and harmony might be achieved.
"We are grateful for those who have fought and valiantly died so that we may enjoy liberty and freedom. We are grateful to those who have perished while engaged in the task of peacekeeping. Bless those who continue to train and prepare themselves for active duty and missions."