Remembrance Day

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

CANADA | Saturday, 5 January 2013 | Views [492] | View Larger Image

The cold chill bites exposed flesh and the soldiers stand alert, reflecting on their own journey to serve and protect our nation. It is an impressive crowd of dedicated on-lookers braving the November frost-laden air to take in “a moment of silence” to honour all soldiers of war. The heavy silence lays like a cold blanket, cascading over the thousands present. Only the reverence of the moment is a warm embrace holding the chill at bay. The eyes of the soldier penetrate right through the crowd, as his intense gaze reveals the deep sadness and emotion that lurks in his eyes.

In honour of those who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their country, the “21 Gun Salute” of the Remembrance Day Ceremony, gets the crowd’s attention as the boom of each blast rolls over Churchill Square and bounces off the office buildings to echo through the urban jungle. The intensity of the Canadian soldier’s piercing gaze and his frozen salute reflects his dedication to serving his country with pride and dignity. This is a day of remembrance and also a day of celebration of the freedoms Canadians enjoy as a sovereign nation.

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The City Centre resonates with silence as the soldiers bow their heads to pay tribute to Canadians lost in war. The sincerity of the soldiers’ homage is magnified by their bowed silhouettes, which fade to the distant towers that reach upwards from the concrete. Like the crosses standing row by row in Flanders Fields, as depicted in the poem by Canadian John McCrae, the lines of soldiers are rigid with purpose. Only the water crystals in their breath shimmer in the bright sun to form wisps of smoke, and then gently fall to the ground as ice droplets.

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Remembrance Day

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

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