Remembrance of fallen soldiers was brief and quiet at Victoria’s Ross Bay Cemetery on Thursday.
Stripped down to the basics — opening remarks, reading of In Flanders Field, the naval prayer, act of remembrance, a blessing, prayer, two minutes of silence, and the laying of the Canadian Armed Forces wreath. There was no announcing of dignitaries.
As a light rain fell over all manner of marble, sandstone and granite gravestones and monuments, people gathered around the Cross of Sacrifice and a monument to the only Royal Canadian Navy ship lost during the First World War.
At about five minutes before 11 a.m., the poem and prayer began.
Air Force reservist Lt. Lloyd Mildon said any act of remembrance is important but in recent years he’s found he can have a deeper act of remembrance and “more inspired” experience away from the larger ceremonies.
“What I take away from this one, when I stand here every year, something different is happening in this ceremony,” said Mildon. “These are not people who came to participate in a large pageant, this is more personal or intimate — it is for me, and I think I see that in the eyes of some of the people here.”
Mildon said while the gathering is mostly organic it is not without structure.
Organizers planned for a typical few dozen people but instead there were a few hundred — similar to the ceremony in Victoria at the B.C. legislature which was planned to be a scaled-down affair without a parade but attracted thousands.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Pascal Harel, Naval Fleet School (Pacific) chief, said given people had not been able to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies last year, before COVID-19 vaccines were available, “it was really important this year to be able to commemorate and remember our veterans, people really wanted to participate and show their respect.”
Harel said the gathering at Ross Bay Cemetery, overlooking the Dallas Road oceanfront, isn’t any more meaningful than larger ceremonies “but for somebody who wants just a short meaningful ceremony I think it’s touching.”
After the moment of silence was observed and a wreath was laid and fallen soldiers were saluted, people were invited to lay their poppies on the steps around the cross.
Elaine Weidner thought that was an especially poignant and inclusive tribute.“I find this is a very lovely way for individuals to participate and make a symbolic gesture,” she said.
Marilyn and Eric Crump usually attend the ceremony at the legislature cenotaph but with organizers wanting to keep crowds smaller, they decided on a smaller event.
“This was a little more low key and quieter and maybe a bit safer,” said Marilyn Crump, as her 83-year-old husband lay a wreath remembering his father who had served in the 2nd Canadian Battalion in the First World War. “The other one is wonderful and I love it and we always go but I wasn’t sure about the crowds.”
In 2002, Crump and her husband went to Vimy Ridge in France and observed the sea of crosses for unknown soldiers in what was a “very emotional day” and on Thursday teared up thinking of that.
Afterwards when many had got out of the rain, Carl Monk took time at each of of seven fallen soldiers’ graves near the Cross of Sacrifice.
Monk, who served in the armed forces for several years and is a father to an eight- and four-year-old, said remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom is a personal thing: “Lest we forget.”
“I have kids,” said Monk, whose grandparents were all in the service one way or another.
“I can’t imagine the grief that parents must have gone through, so for me it’s how do we prevent this from ever happening again.”
