Second World War veteran, 99, lays wreath at cenotaph

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Londoners came out in droves Monday to mark Remembrance Day, flocking to the Victoria Park cenotaph for the annual observance.

Residents of Parkwood Institute’s veterans care program, one of three specialized facilities funded by Veterans Affairs Canada in Ontario, were honoured focal points at the public ceremony Monday morning.

Four paratransit buses, filed with several residents of the St. Joseph’s Health Care London program, parked along Wellington Street and Dufferin Avenue next to the Victoria Park memorial to watch the ceremony, sheltered from the overcast 11 C weather.

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The special guests drew rousing applause from the crowd during the opening remarks.

“We are grateful to our younger and older veterans,” Parade Chaplain Ret. Col. Nigel Shaw told the crowd. “We remember families whose lives have been changed by war.”

This year’s Silver Cross mother was Angela Cameron-Jolly, whose son Brett Cameron died by suicide at Royal Military College in 2016. The 20-year-old Londoner was one of three suicide deaths at the Kingston school that year, incidents that sparked an extensive internal investigation.

Cameron-Jolly received the Memorial Cross and Sacrifice medal in a ceremony at Wolseley Barracks last October.

With his service dog in tow, Al Brunsden, 99, a Second World War navy veteran who served aboard the HMCS Uganda, laid a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The morning ceremony began with the arrival of a procession from the Delta London Armouries to Victoria Park that included members of the RCMP, London police, firefighters and military personnel.

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Londoners gathered Monday to mark Remembrance Day, a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women who served and continue to serve. Here is our live coverage of Remembrance Day by LFP journalists.

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11:05 a.m. The Silver Cross mother, Angela Cameron-Jolly, lays a wreath at the cenotaph. Her son, Brett Cameron, died by suicide at Royal Military College in 2016. MP Peter Fragiskatos, MPP Terrence Kernaghan, Mayor Josh Morgan and representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire also lay wreaths.

10:59 a.m. Following opening remarks at the Remembrance service by master of ceremony Jim Swan and the singing of O Canada, David Cunningham plays Last Post at the cenotaph at Victoria Park. Two minutes of silence are observed after the last note is played.

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10:20 a.m.: Crowds at the cenotaph await the arrival of the ceremonial parade, which is departing from the Delta London Armouries at 10:30 a.m. Veterans from St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s program are in place, aboard buses, with a clear view of the cenotaph.

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10 a.m. Many Londoners are already taking their places at the Victoria Park cenotaph for the 11 a.m. Remembrance Day ceremony. London city hall has closed roads near the park for the annual gathering.

9:30 a.m. George Olley, 99, is awarded an honorary high school diploma from Beal secondary school at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the school. Olley dropped out of Beal at the age of 17 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and served in the Second World War.

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