CREDIT: GEORGE MARAGOS
Downtown London was a sea of red and patriotism as the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11.

The 83rd Remembrance Day ceremony at London’s cenotaph in Victoria Park attracted crowds commemorating veterans who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.

Current and retired uniformed members of the military marched in the Veterans Parade from the Delta Marriot Hotel up Wellington Street to the cenotaph greeted by a solemn crowd. The Salvation Army greeted citizens with free hot cocoa on the crisp fall Nov. 11.

As veterans approached the Salvation Army Jubilee Brass Band led by bandmaster Jim Gordon provided the sound of trumpets while the London Fire Fighters Pipes Band contributed the drumline. The Master of Ceremonies, retired Maj. Bruce Stock, opened the day’s processions reminding everyone of the 117,000 veterans who’d lost their lives in WWI, WWII, Korea, & Afghanistan and spoke for the nearly 300,000 surviving veterans as he thanked the audience for wearing their poppies.

After the opening remarks the people joined the Salvation Army Band and the Catholic Central Chamber Choir in singing “O’ Canada”.

 A single trumpet sounded-off to the “Last Post” and Maj. Stock stood at the orator’s podium in salute. This classic song might’ve once signified military personnel to wake up, or go to bed, now signalling the end of life for some; the last sound before the two minutes of silence. Bag pipes broke the silence as Pipe Maj. Joann McIntyre played “Lament”, preceded by “Rouse”, a classic overture performed on the trumpet by Maj. Gary Venables.

 The Reverend Quenton Little of All Saints’ Anglican Church read “Act of Remembrances”, with the crowd responding “We will remember them.” He recited an invocation and requested pause to recognize, “how transient a human life is.” Attention was directed to the cenotaph as he explained that it has no connection to religious symbolism, coming from the Greek “kenos taphos”, meaning “empty tomb”; as a monument to everyone who never returned home.

The memorial poem “In Flanders Fields” was sung by the choir before wreaths were laid as a sign of honour and respect. The Reverend closed in prayer asking for protection and peace for those serving in the military. “God Save The Queen” was sung by all to conclude the ceremony as the veterans marched past the cenotaph. The crowd dispersed as the Veteran’s Memorial bells chimed and people placed their poppies at the base of the “V” shaped granite structure inscribed “Victory” and on the adjacent plaque that reads: “We will never forget.”