‘I’m right here in honour of my dad. It mattered what he did,’ says daughter of peacekeeper Herman Van Rossum
The rain held off, the crowds didn’t, for Remembrance Day in downtown Barrie this morning.
A whole lot gathered in Memorial Sq. on Monday to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and honour the veterans who served Canada.
“It’s the only place to be today,” stated John Flavelle of Barrie. “If it was up to me, they (veterans) would all live for free when they came home.”
The Flavelle household was close to the cenotaph in drive on Remembrance Day, a usually cool, gray, windy and damp affair.
“I always honour the veterans, and my grandfather,” Janette Flavelle informed BarrieToday. “They don’t do enough for these people.”
“It should be a (statutory) holiday,” stated Farrah Flavelle.
For some attending Nov. 11 ceremonies, it’s what they’ve at all times performed.
Dylan Moore of Barrie is ex-military, after serving for eight years.
“I’ve been coming to Remembrance Day parades since I was a young cadet,” he stated. “I think it’s a tradition we can’t forget. It’s important just to come out.”
Herman Van Rossum was a peacekeeper from Barrie who died simply greater than a 12 months in the past. His household was at Memorial Sq. on Monday.
“I’m here in honour of my dad,” stated daughter Cindy Warren, along with her 14-year-old son Kelten. “It mattered what he did.”
“It’s to honour his memory,” stated Kelten.
Donna Van Rossum didn’t go to Remembrance Day final 12 months, so near her husband’s loss of life. However she was again this 12 months.
“We had 54 years together and Remembrance Day has always been extremely important to him,” she stated.
Diane Birch, additionally of Barrie, says her father, father-in-law and uncles all served within the navy. She was there for them.
“And it’s to remember all the people who fought for my freedom, and died, so I can stand here on this rainy day,” Birch stated.
“I have a long family history with the military,” Deborah O’Dwyer stated of her causes.
A brand new twist this 12 months was vocalist Ric Ross, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, singing a track a few soldier who died in battle and by no means acquired to fulfill his daughter, and the daughter who by no means acquired to fulfill her father and puzzled ‘what’s he like?’
However Remembrance Day in Barrie was additionally about previous traditions that also apply.
Invoice Sergeant learn In Flanders Fields, Canadian physician John McCrae’s well-known First World Battle (1914-18) poem that has survived because the Nice Battle, because it was referred to as then.
There was the Final Submit, two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., The Lament, Volley Hearth and Reveille.
Quite a few veterans have been additionally launched, amongst them William Snow, who’s 102 and fought within the Second World Battle.
Among the many politicians attending have been Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley, representing the federal authorities, Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall and City of Innisfil Coun. Kevin Eisses.
