The last time I attended the Rememberance Day Parade at Victory Square I was in my university days. It was a long time ago.
A veteran I captured at the last parade attended.
Yesterday was only the second time I have attended the official ceremony. What started me even thinking about attending was witnessing my daughter’s Rememberance Day ceremony at her school. I wanted her to understand how we as a community celebrate the day. I was quite taken aback watching the children at her school act out their visions of peace, read their own poems of peace and then sing, ‘One Tin Soldier’.
It is with mixed feelings that I think about the last few days. Trying to explain the concept of war and peace to little ones is very challenging. When I think of them standing at the end of the ceremony, clapping with all others present as the veterans and other enlisted groups walked past I didn’t know what to say to them. When the armed vehicles rolled down the street at the end I felt afraid. My fear only lasted a moment. I had the luxury of walking away, slipping in to a cafe for a hot coffee and feeling myself again.
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