On a cool, grey Friday morning, Remembrance Day was marked by hundreds of Barrie residents at Memorial Square.
Two minutes of silence was observed for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the end of the First World War and honour Canadian veterans since then who have served their country.
The reasons to be there are familiar, part of a tradition carried through generations of Canadians.
“I’m just bringing my young one down here to be part of the ceremony,” local resident Jenn Campbell told BarrieToday, gesturing toward Ryder Verschaeve, 10. “It’s always good to bring the young ones out to remember.”
A single working mother, Campbell says she has a strong connection to Nov. 11. Her grandfather was a diesel mechanic in the Second World War.
“He worked on trains, just about everything," Campbell said.
The message got through to her son.
“I respect the military,” Verschaeve said, “and I’m thankful.”
Adam Smith, also of Barrie, has familiar reasons, too.
“I have respect for fallen soldiers, so never forget,” he said. “I take every Nov. 11 off (work) to come down here, no matter what. I’ve been down here in the snow, in the rain.
“I’m just glad the rain held off today,” Smith added.
Valerie Kelley, another Barrie resident, has a special connection to Remembrance Day.
“I have family who were in the armed forces and are still in the armed forces,” she said. “It’s for them and for everybody who passed before them, just to show some support.”
“It’s just out of respect,” said her friend Bernice Vasey, who lives in Horseshoe Valley. “Absolutely, yes.”
The ceremonies began just before 10 a.m., with members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets assembling at Barrie City Hall’s Circle at the Centre, then marching down Mulcaster Street to the familiar ‘left, right, left, right’ command, before heading east on Dunlop Street to await the parade’s beginning.
Led by the Barrie Pipes and Drums, the parade also included members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Barrie city police, cadets, and Scouts Canada.
Steve Glover, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147 (Barrie) public relations officer and branch historian, explained there are 224 names on the Memorial Square cenotaph — 79 from the Second World War, two from the Korean War, one from Afghanistan, and 142 from the First World War, also known as the Great War.
“The great majority of these men died before the age of 30,” he said solemnly.
Lieut.-Col. David Meehan, who is with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, said he was of two minds about Nov. 11.
“I’m both pleased and saddened,” he said. “Pleased that we can gather, saddened for the reason.”
Lieut.-Col. Trevor Cadeau, 16 Wing Deputy Commander at CFB Borden, also said it was a solemn day.
“I reflect on my grandfather, who served on the beaches of Dieppe and would not speak of it,” he said. “I have had to try to imagine his experience.”
The Dieppe Raid of Aug. 19, 1942, saw more than 6,000 men come ashore at five different points along a 16-kilometre stretch of heavily defended, Nazi-occupied French coastline. This Allied force was made up of almost 5,000 Canadians, approximately 1,000 British commandos and 50 American Army Rangers. Things immediately went wrong for the landing force when it encountered a small German convoy and the ensuing firefight alerted the enemy. The soldiers that came ashore consequently were met with overwhelming fire and some of the heaviest Allied losses took place there.
Just before 11 a.m., today, Glover asked the large crowd at Memorial Square for silence.
“We are calling for all assembled here to pause and pay silent tribute,” he said.
Bugler Sgt. Tony Beresford (ret.) then played The Last Post, which was followed by two minutes of silence and The Lament.
A Feu De Joie, which is a rifle salute with blank gunfire, then took place from Barrie’s waterfront, followed by Reveille.
The fly-past was a 1943 PT-26 Cornell and a bi-plane used for training in both world wars, courtesy of Edenvale Aerodrome.
Wreaths were then laid at the cenotaph by a variety of officials and organizations.
First was Silver Cross Mother Elizabeth McKay, mother of Pte. Kevin McKay, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, accompanied by husband Fred McKay and nephew David.
The City of Barrie also honours the Canadian military through the Poppy Crosswalk, which was installed in November 2021. The artwork is at the crosswalk across from the cenotaph at Memorial Square, at the base of Owen Street.
In addition, Barrie honours, remembers and commemorates its fallen soldiers by featuring pictures of local veterans on flags temporarily displayed throughout Memorial Square/Meridian Place, and around the entire waterfront to Tiffin Street. This year, 24 new flags were added to the series.
City residents can also learn more about streets throughout Barrie named in honour of local soldiers, through the Poppies on Street Signs online map. Through this map, residents can learn about the soldiers who are memorialized through street names, including information such as their occupation, rank and memorial location.
