Prince Charles Joins Thousands For National Remembrance Day Ceremony

Prince Charles, in full military uniform, joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper and thousands of others to pay tribute to Canada’s war dead at a packed national Remembrance Day ceremony Wednesday.

The prince, colonel-in-chief of three Canadian regiments, wore the insignia of a lieutenant-general, as he laid a wreath at the foot of the towering National War Memorial.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, titular commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, also donned a military uniform in a rare display as she walked beside the prince and laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen.

Along with Gen. Walter Natynczyk, their uniforms gave an unusually martial appearance to the front ranks of the ceremony.

Della Marie Morley of East Saint Paul, Man., this year’s Silver Cross mother, was on hand representing all grieving families. Her son, Cpl. Keith Morley, was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 18, 2006, while serving with the 2nd battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

The ritual began in bright, if chilly, sunshine with a choir singing ‘O Canada” and a bugler playing the haunting notes of “The Last Post.”

The crash of an artillery piece and the tolling of the Peace Tower clock sounding the hour of 11 a.m. heralded the two-minute silence.

The hush was broken by the crack of a second gun as a piper sent the keening notes of “The Lament” over the wide plaza around the memorial.

As a children’s choir sang “In Flanders Fields,” the dignitaries placed their wreaths in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier at the foot of the 21-metre-tall memorial.

Other wreaths were presented on behalf of the Forces, the Royal Canadian Legion and other veterans’ groups. Young people laid one on behalf of the country’s youth.

Dozens of diplomats laid row upon row of wreaths along the granite flanks of the monument.

On the plaza, hundreds of veterans, many frail and bundled against the cold, sat with moist eyes as padres offered prayers and poet Laurence Binyon’s pledge of remembrance was spoken: “At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”

Most Second World War vets are on their late 80s. Korean War vets are in their late 70s.

The wreath-laying ceremony concluded as piped strains of Amazing Grace echoed across the crowd.

It was one of many such commemorations held across the country and around the world, from Korea to Kandahar, wherever Canadian soldiers are stationed.

A separate ceremony was held at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa, a couple of kilometres from the war memorial, where a number of the dead from Afghanistan are buried.

Before the ceremony, Prince Charles issued a statement thanking Canadian troops in Afghanistan for their service.

“We join with the Canadian people in expressing our proud and heartfelt gratitude to all members of Her Majesty’s Canadian Forces who are currently serving in Afghanistan for your selfless dedication on behalf of us all.

“My prayers and good wishes are with you at this time. May God continue to bless and protect you.”

Senator Romeo Dallaire, a retired lieutenant-general who led the ill-fated UN mission during the Rwandan genocide and suffered years of post-traumatic stress problems, issued a statement urging Canadians to think of their soldiers and what they have given up.

He recalled the words of his own soldier-father:

“Soldiers are very unusual people. On the outside, they are the hardest, most demanding people, but underneath that, they are the most human, the most feeling, the most emotionally attached people who exist.”

The prime minister issued his own message, saying Canada’s military endeavours are part of its heritage.

“We must keep the torch of remembrance burning for future generations to come,” the statement said. “Let us never forget these brave men and women whose sacrifice served to make life better for others. We must remember, not just today, but every day.”