List of City Services Closed or On Modified Hours For Remembrance Day
/Several City services are offering modified holiday hours or may be closed on Saturday or Monday, in observance of Remembrance Day.
File Photo.
Peterborough Blogs
Local Veteran Lee-Anne Quinn Shares Remembrance Day from her Perspective
/Honourary Lieutenant Colonel Lee-Anne Quinn served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 23 years as an Air Medical Evacuation Nurse.
She was deployed in places like Former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Rwanda, Deer Lake and Fort Hope, Whitehorse and Afghanistan.
When she left the CAF in 2008, she immediately started working as a nurse practitioner in the civilian world.
Reflecting on her service, Quinn shares how important it is for her to make a difference in someone’s life each day.
“If I can’t make a difference for somebody else, it’s not a fulfilled day.”
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Lakefield WWII Veteran Arnold Graham Reflects on Remembrance Day
/Arnold Graham, now a month shy of 96-years-old, enlisted with the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough Regiment) on Dec. 2, 1942, just ten days before his 17th birthday.
Left, Arnold Graham 1943, Royal Canadian Airforce (Photo courtesy of Lakefield War Vets) Right, Arnold at the Buckhorn Community Centre, 95 years old. Photo by Angela O’Grady
Graham, the youngest of twelve children born to Claire and Isaiah Graham, was the last of his six brothers to enlist in the army.
“I joined up when I was 17 years old,” he said. “My mother said she didn’t want me to go, but I said I want to go because I had six brothers fighting all over Europe and I want to help them get home a little sooner.”
Graham was released from the Reserve Service May 8, 1943 in order to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Because he was not yet 18 his mother was required to provide a letter authorizing his entrance into the RCAF which she provided.
He got his wings in Quebec, then headed to England where he became part of an air crew flying Lancaster four engine bombers.
Graham joined the 433 Squadron of the RCAF, the “Porcupines”, Bomber Command, and became a Flight Sergeant Air Gunner.
The 433 Porcupine Bomber Squadron’s 1st Op was on Jan 2, 1944 (mining) and the last Op was on Apr 25, 1945 (bombing). They flew 2,316 total sorties with a 90.07% success rate.
During one particular mission with the 433 Porcupine Squadron on March 31, 1945 on Op 208 – Hamburg, a 500-bomber raid, set out with Mustang fighter escorts for the first time. F/Sgt Graham, manning the Mid/Upper Gun, was credited with shooting down an Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow); the first German jet aircraft which had attacked 16 times in 9 minutes. He was the first Canadian Gunner to do so and also recorded the only kill for their Lancaster.
Pictured at the Remembrance Service at the Buckhorn Community Centre are Robert Ough, Arnold Graham and John Bannon, WWII Veteran. Photo by Angela O’Grady.
When Graham reflects on his time in the air force, he recalls his mother.
“My mother was a widow,” he said. “She walked to the post office every day, never missed a day, to get a letter from one of her boys. When she met me when I came home and got off the train in Peterborough she looked at me and said ‘Oh my baby’s home’. I was her baby.”
He also recalls the men he served with in the Air Force.
“I had 13 brothers that I fought with during the war. My own six brothers, and seven in the Air Force. Everytime I go to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day I start to cry.”
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
The Significance of the Poppy Campaign in Canada
/Each year from the last Friday in October until Remembrance Day many Canadians dawn red poppies on their lapel.
The real poppy became widespread in Europe after soils in France and Belgium became rich in lime from debris and rubble from the fighting during the First World War. These little red flowers also flourished around the gravesites of the war dead.
In 1915, John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Artillery, famously made note of this phenomenon in his poem, In Flanders Fields.
On Saturday November 9, 1918, two days before the Armistice, Moina Michael was on duty in the reading room at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries’ headquarters in New York—a place where U.S. servicemen would often gather with friends and family to say their goodbyes before they went overseas.
After reading McCrae’s poem, Moina made a personal pledge to always wear the red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance and for “keeping the faith with all who died.”
In 1920, Anna Guérin—the French Poppy Lady—attended the national American Legion convention as a representative of France’s YMCA Secretariat. She was inspired by Moina Michael’s idea of the poppy as a memorial flower and felt that the scope of the Memorial Poppy could be expanded to help the needy.
She suggested that artificial poppies could be made and sold as a way of raising money for the benefit of orphaned children and others who had suffered greatly as a result of the war.
In 1921, Madame Guérin visited Canada and convinced the Great War Veterans Association of Canada (predecessor to the Royal Canadian Legion) to adopt the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in aid of fundraising; which it did on July 5th of that year.
Today, the Poppy Campaign is one of the Royal Canadian Legion’s most important programs. The money raised from donations provides direct assistance for Veterans in financial distress, as well as funding for medical equipment, medical research, home services, long term care facilities and many other purposes.
The Poppy can be worn every day of the campaign. Often people place their poppy on a wreath or at the base of the cenotaph or memorial as a sign of respect at the end of the Remembrance Day ceremony.
The poppy may be worn at commemorative events throughout the year, such as anniversaries of significant battles, a memorial service, and other similar occasions. It is suggested that event organizers seek advice from the Royal Canadian Legion before using the Poppy outside of the campaign.
The Royal Canadian Legion suggests that the poppy be worn on the left lapel of a garment and as close to the heart as possible.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Peterborough & District Sports Hall Of Fame Display Their Tribute to the Troops for Remembrance Day
/Several Peterborough athletes have served our country and the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame has continued their annual tradition of honouring their efforts in an exhibit.
Pete Dalliday speaks with Pat Bronson as she walks us through displays with veteran/athletes such as Dootch Vitarelli, Bill Crowley Sr., Walter Miler, Gunner Lynch and more.
The displays honour those who served in World War I, II, through Peace Keeping/Modern Conflict efforts and others.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Douro-Dummer Celebrates Cenotaph's Century Milestone with Online Ceremony
/Douro-Dummer is going virtual for a second consecutive year with a Remembrance Day tribute to be streamed through Youtube for Thursday.
DOURO-DUMMER MAYOR J. MURRAY JONES NARRATED THE DOURO-DUMMER WAR MEMORIAL VIDEO ON THE TOWNSHIP’S YOUTUBE VIDEO DAYS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
The pre-recorded video is made up of help from the township’s community and local notables to honour the 100th anniversary of the cenotaph.
The ceremony will be aired starting at roughly 10:45 a.m. this Thursday.
Students from St. Joseph’s C.E.S. and Warsaw Public School were invited to be a part of the video ceremony to get them actively involved in the day of recognition for veterans according to Mayor J. Murray Jones.
“That is the most important part of it all is to inject them with this spirit of Remembrance Day,” he said. “Years going by, we don’t want to see that going why so that’s why we included them in our video, our virtual service.”
The Remembrance Day Ceremony organizers will have personnel on-site at the cenotaph but encourage everyone to view the online ceremony if possible. The in-person event consists of a lowering of the flag, a reading of “In Flanders Fields” and a two-minute moment of silence.
A link to the video will be provided in November on the Township’s website www.dourodummer.ca.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Douro-Dummer to Pay Respect to Veterans Online Remembrance Day
/While restrictions on outdoor gatherings have recently lifted, the 2021 Douro-Dummer Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held online.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Organizers note that preparations for the ceremony were geared toward a more restrictive situation, and at this point it would require more time and resources than are immediately available to switch to an in-person ceremony.
“We truly hope that we can get back to normal for Remembrance Day next year. We can plan on a record turnout (next year) to demonstrate our community’s respect for those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice” said Mayor J. Murray Jones.
The Remembrance Day Ceremony organizers understand that some individuals may still visit the Cenotaph to pay their respects and for those individuals, there will be personnel on-site during the late morning of Nov. 11.
To observe the complete Remembrance Day ceremony, as well as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Warsaw Cenotaph, a video will be broadcasted on the Township’s YouTube channel.
The pre-recorded video of the ceremony will be aired starting at approximately 10:45 a.m. on November 11th, 2021.
A link to the video will be provided in November on the Township’s website www.dourodummer.ca
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
#RememberThem: Thousands Expected To Gather At Confederation Park At Cenotaph
/UPDATED: Some pictures from today's ceremony at the Cenotaph....
-------------
ORIGINAL POST:
Today is Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the First World War. As citizens of our free country gather at Cenotaphs across the land, we pause to think and say thank you for the tremendous sacrifices that were made to protect our future by women and men many decades ago.
The ceremony in Peterborough begins at our Cenotaph (located at 500 George St. N) at Confederation Park at 10 a.m. with a parade followed by an always touching ceremony beginning at 10:30. As is tradition, a moment of silence will be held at 11 a.m. followed by closing remarks and song.
With the World Wars and Korean War having ended so many years ago, our local veterans from those events are fewer in number. We urge you to put on your poppy and head downtown to this touching event and show support for our local veterans. Without their help, the world might have been a very different place than it is today. We thank them for all the freedoms we now take for granted.
Lest we forget. —by Aaron Elliott
Here is a tribute by the Peterborough Pop Ensemble set to "Honour You"...
Learn more about Remembrance Day here.
The Trews "Highway of Heroes"...
Today Is Remembrance Day
/Streets near City Hall and Confederation Square are closed from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. today for the Remembrance Day parade. It starts at the PCVS parking lot at 10 a.m. and then proceeds down George St. to the service at the Cenotaph in Confederation Square.
Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.
Remembering Those Who Have Served & Sacrificed (And Those Who Continue To Do So)
/[Veterans Wall of Honour Dedication Ceremony; chextvDOTcom; Highway of Heroes; The Trews]
[Recommended: Canadian Hero Fund; The Memory Project]
[More local coverage: MyKawartha; The Peterborough Examiner; Adam Scott Marks Remembrance Day In Unique Way; TVCogeco Live Coverage Begins At 10 a.m.]
Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.
