Retired rear admiral Ken Summers wasn't kidding when he said "the best is yet to come" when an artist's sketch of The Homecoming statue was unveiled on Wharf Street last year.
Emotions ran as high as the flags flapping along the harbour a year later as 1,500 spectators watched Lt.-Gov. Steven Point unveil Nathan Scott's bronze sculpture, depicting a returning sailor's happy reunion with his daughter.
The event followed a Freedom of the City parade led by Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile, with more than 3,000 Canadian Forces personnel attracting thousands of onlookers as they marched in celebration of the centennial of the Canadian navy.
"This is probably one of the best days of my career," beamed the Maritime Forces Pacific commander at a reception at the Hotel Grand Pacific. "I'm honoured and humbled by being fortunate enough to lead the men and women of Canada's West Coast naval formation."
Honorary Capt. Cedric Steele, who co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the $250,000 project with Summers, was visibly moved by the outpouring of support from the community.
"There are 1,000 people who contributed to this," he said, noting 900 commemorative bricks were sold.
"For me it was especially emotional when I walked up to unveil the statue," he said. "It was like giving birth to a child."
An exhausted but elated Scott said he was relieved his "nine months of good, hard work and sweat" was so appreciated.
"I'm so thrilled by how people have accepted it," he said. "There were a lot of tears."
Indeed, the statue evoked memories for many sailors, like fleet chief Paul Helston, recalling a Persian Gulf deployment.
"There was my family at Duntze Head watching my ship come in and greeting me on the jetty. It's a poignant moment."
Master seaman Mary Harrison said hearing the Freedom of the City proclamation drove home how important this day was.
"This only comes around every 100 years. It's never going to happen in my life again, so you have to be in the moment."
Added John Mason, an 86-year-old navy veteran: "I've been many places in the world, and Canada looks better the farther away you get."
