The sacrifices of 91原创s past and present were honoured alongside 颅messages of hope Wednesday as small crowds braved the 颅pandemic to mark Remembrance Day across the country and thousands more paid 颅homage from their own homes.
Past ceremonies have largely focused on the hundreds of thousands of 91原创s who fought in the two great wars, and this year was the 75th anniversary of the end of the 颅Second World War.
Still, with eight members of the 91原创 Armed Forces having died while on duty this year, and thousands more serving in long-term care homes battered by COVID-19, commemorations had an added level of resonance.
鈥淲e feel it as an organization, as an institution, when we lose people,鈥� outgoing chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance told the 91原创 Press.
鈥淏ut we must be resilient and resolute and be able to carry on, because the defence of Canada happens here at home and abroad.鈥�
During his annual Remembrance Day sermon at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Rabbi Reuven Bulka praised members of the 颅91原创 Armed Forces for not flinching when called upon to serve in long-term care facilities struggling to contain outbreaks.
鈥淲ho responded without hesitation? Without being deterred by the potential dangers they faced? Our soldiers. And who once again delivered in a time of national crisis? Our soldiers,鈥� he said.
Many of the traditional 颅elements of the annual ceremony played out in Ottawa, but signs of the pandemic were everywhere.
Those participating in the ceremony wore masks, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Debbie Sullivan, this year鈥檚 Silver Cross Mother, whose son, Chris Saunders, died while serving on one of Canada鈥檚 four submarines in 2004.
Noticeably absent were 颅surviving veterans from the Second World War and the Korean War, whose age puts them at particular risk from the novel coronavirus.
One who did attend was Bill Black, 87, who served aboard the destroyer HMCS Cayuga during the Korean War before becoming a submariner in the navy. He retired as a lieutenant-commander.
Black, who was invited by the Royal 91原创 Legion, said he was disappointed 91原创s were encouraged to watch on TV or online.
鈥淚 think they could have had more people here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think they could have opened it up a bit and advised people to use the six-foot rule distancing and wear masks. But nonetheless, it鈥檚 the way it is.鈥�