Remembrance Day service at Calgary Military Museums to honour those that served in war

Over 8,000 people gathered at the Military Museums Saturday to remember, once more, the men and women who have participated in all conflicts since the First World War.

“One out of every ten soldiers were killed at World War I, one out of every five pilots were killed and when that ended in 1919 people of all the countries in the world said ‘oh, that will never happen again, there will be no more wars.’ And yet, twenty-five years later, they end up in World War II,” said Major Robert Wade to CityNews.

“What you remember is all those good men that didn’t make it through that period of service.”

The service started with a wreath-laying ceremony, which included a military parade and a spitfire flyover.

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Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek was among the dignitaries on hand, along with veterans, soldiers and military members. After the service, people were invited to visit the Tecumseh Military Museum.

“A lot of them understand that there was a history. But sometimes, I feel there not might be as much impact until you get those personal one-on-one stories that you come into the museum, and you get to see the photos, and you get to see somebody who’s still serving or somebody who has served to talk about what they’ve done” said Jackie Jansen van Doorn, the executive director of the Miltary Museums Foundation.

A Military Service also recognized the work of every veteran, including those who are still serving and are currently deployed around the world, along with those who served in the past and all who have participated in military Canadian history in times of war, conflict, and peace.

“What Canadians need to learn from that, is that the world is very different to what we experience here in Canada,” Wade explained.

“And by talking to people who have come to Canada from every part of the world because of conflict, let’s say, you learn to appreciate what it means to be a Canadian. We are so lucky to be born in this country.”