Kelowna

Huge turnout at Remembrance Day

Carmen Weld - Nov 11, 2013 / 1:58 pm | Story: 102433

Kelowna’s City Park was packed with over a thousand residents attending this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, marking it as one of the largest turnouts ever in Kelowna.

“I’ve been coming since 1965 and each year the turnout gets larger and larger, while the veterans get less and less the younger people coming out gets greater, which is so important,” shared Reverend Dick Fletcher, Chaplain to the local legion.

Richard Gunoff, Chief Warrant Officer of BC Dragoons, was also touched by the show of support.

“I am glad the young people are coming out, and I am glad that that the public is coming out in great numbers, it shows that there is a lot of strength in Canada,” said Gunoff.

Photo: Carmen Weld - Central Okanagan

He also shared how important it is to him having served on the Canadian Forces for 38-years that he takes the time every November 11 to remember.

“This means so much, so many memories. Given what everybody went through it is nice to turn out every year with all our friends and everyone else and remember.”

Retired Colonel for the British Columbia Dragoons Carl Stef was chatting with family when a lone woman came up to thank him for his service.

“It is an honour to meet you,” said Louise Harrison. “My brother John served, and my brother Howard was the first special forces for Canada, he was there four years and came home with his knee shot.”

She said her thank yous and continued on and then Stef spoke to Castanet.

“Today means an awful lot to me, to be here to remember our veterans and all those who have given their lives to service of course but also those who have come back as well,” said Stef. “It is a very special day for Canada to remember our freedoms.”

Retired Lieutenant General Jack Dangerfield was emotional and touched by the hundreds of smiles, well wishes and thank-yous he received from the crowd.

“It means quite a bit from two points of views; The primary one of course is to remember those who gave their lives in service of our country but also to honour those who served and survived that are here with us as well,” said Dangerfield who returned home alive after his service, unlike many of his friends.

The very large crowd of all creed, colours, ages, backgrounds and even many faithful dog companions stood proudly to sing our anthem, share two minutes of absolute silence, salute our veterans, share prayers and remember that the freedom we have now is because of their sacrifices.

Below is a compilation of photos from the Kelowna City Park Remembrance Day 2013 Ceremony.