At the cenotaph in City Hall Square in Windsor, hundreds gathered to reflect on the many contributions of Canada’s veterans.
And while the focus was on veterans past and present, children again played a prominent role in the service, singing to aging veterans during the ceremony.
Emotions ran high as each person honoured veterans and the war dead, at what may have been one of the largest Remembrance Day ceremonies in recent years, the numbers overwhelming some veterans.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis spoke of the younger generation’s contribution, saying “Your commitment to their memory gives us all hope that forever they will be remembered.”
And with their ranks becoming smaller with each passing year, Second World War and Korean veterans are pleased to know the torch has been successfully passed to younger generations.
Hugh Thompson, a Second World War veteran, says “People who don't know you come up and thank you. It’s nice to see the whole community appreciate it.”
One of the more touching moments of the ceremony was when Theresa Charbonneau laid a wreath in memory of her son, 23-year-old Cpl. Andrew Grenon, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.
“As part of Canada’s military, he's first and foremost in our minds. But not to take away from every other veteran who has ever served or who does serve. They are phenomenal. We have what we have because of them,” she said.
