During today’s Remembrance Day ceremony, Alex Csank, a 20-year veteran of the Canadian Navy, turned to Joe Maxwell, a 99-year-old World War II veteran and said, “You look good, Joe.”
“You’re looking pretty good yourself,” chuckled Maxwell in his thick Glaswegian accent.
But the smiles faded when the two veterans laid a wreath at the permanent War Memorial in front of the Raymond Building of Macdonald Campus. Silently and stoically, they saluted their fallen comrades.
Hundreds gather to pay tribute
Csank and Maxwell were among the honoured guests at today’s Remembrance Day ceremony, jointly organized by Macdonald Campus and John Abbott College.
Hundreds of spectators, young and old, took advantage of the perfect fall weather to take part in the ceremony held on John Abbott’s Memorial Field. As per tradition, the veterans and dignitaries in attendance were encircled by students from local elementary schools, Macdonald High School, and John Abbott’s Police Technology program.
People from the West Island, including Greg Kelley, MNA for Jacques-Cartier, sat in the stands along with members of the Mac, John Abbott and Mac HS communities.
‘Their courage reaches all of us’
The ceremony featured dignitaries and veterans who spoke, recited poetry or contributed with music.
“Today, we come together to honour the courageous individuals who served and sacrificed in defense of the freedom that we are privileged to enjoy,” said Vaishnavi Parey, President of the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society. “This includes students, faculty, staff and community members of all ages – a reminder that the impact of their courage reaches all of us regardless of our background.”
Colonel Andrew Lussier, whose 35 years of service included tours in Kosovo and Afghanistan, read The Act of Remembrance:
“They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We shall remember them.”
The ceremony ended with the Grenadier Guards leading a large procession to the permanent War Memorial in front of the Raymond Building. There, Maxwell and Csank laid their wreath and people planted dozens of small Canadian flags around the Memorial.