Sask. marks Remembrance Day as hundreds pay tribute to veterans, fallen soldiers

Hundreds of people filled the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon as young cadet bands and bagpipers streamed through the building to remember the men and women who have defended Canada in times of war and peace and the 118,000 Canadians who have been killed in service to this country.

This year marks important anniversaries for the Canadian Armed Forces — the 80th anniversary of Canadians landing at Juno Beach on D-Day in 1944 to take on the Nazis in the largest seaborne invasion in history and the 60th anniversary of the start of Canada's peacekeeping mission in Cyprus when thousands deployed to tamp down a crisis in the Mediterranean. 

It's also been 10 years since the end of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, a conflict that saw some 40,000 Armed Forces personnel take part in an international coalition to destroy the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban regime. The war killed 165 Canadians — 158 soldiers and 7 civilians. 

Michael Graver, a Saskatoon-based lieutenant colonel, was stationed in Afghanistan for two years in 2009 and 2010. He said he considers being able to serve in that position a high point in his career. 

"In the army, we have a term called the no fail task. So it means you have to accomplish a mission and I see Nov. 11 as a no fail task. So we have to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers, those that paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said.

Graver said he's had a family history of veterans — with his great grandfather fighting in the First World War and his grandfather fighting in the Second World War. 

The stands broke into applause as the cadet bands blew into bagpipers. But there was also a long breath in, and a solemn silence when teary-eyed family members watched Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Russ Mirasty lay the wreath on behalf of people who have lost a child to military service in Canada. 

Malcolm Young, a 32-year military veteran, has served both at home and abroad, including a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. Young said Monday's ceremony was about reflection.

"It's about a moment of finding a special place where they can go and remember in their own way, and our hearts go out to them as they remember," he said.

Monday was the 93rd anniversary of Saskatoon's Remembrance Day ceremony. It was not just a day to mark past service, as the ceremony also paid tribute to the 4,385 Canadian forces personnel who are currently deployed. 

Young said he hopes the ceremonies help younger people learn, understand and appreciate the service and the sacrifices. 

"It's hard to translate sometimes what that means to a very young person, and so the best way of doing that is by showing them the veterans that live amongst them," he said.

In Regina, hundreds gathered around the Cenotaph at Victoria Park downtown to pay their respects and honour those who have fought and died to protect this country and its freedoms.

Maj. Pete Garten, retired Air Force officer, spent 44 years in uniform. Garten said he was pleased to see the crowd, but more importantly, the young people who made up quite a significant portion of that crowd. 

Garten said his father, who was also in the military, died early in his life.

"It was unfortunate that I never got to know more about what he did," he said. 

"Him and I really never connected, never liked to talk about it too much, and that's kind of typical of veterans. I think you hear that a lot. They never wanted to relive a lot of those memories."

Garten said that disconnect left him feeling "uninspired" to join the military and that's how he chose to serve the Air Force — a uniform he said he wishes he could still throw back on. 

Mitchell Bonokoski played The Last Post on the trumpet, commemorating those who have died in war before a moment of silence took place for two minutes. Bonokoski said he is grateful for the opportunity.

"It's a moment where a lot of people reflect on people they know who have served, people in their family who have served, and it's something that only us trumpet players get to do," he said.