Calgarians remember sacrifices a century after WWI ended
By Staff
Global News
Posted November 11, 2018 9:00 am EST
Updated November 11, 2018 9:00 pm EST
2 min read
This article is more than 5 years old and some information may not be up to date.
WATCH: Global News' Linda Olsen joined thousands to honour the sacrifices of veterans this Remembrance Day with a special live broadcast of ceremonies from the Field of Crosses – Nov 11, 2018
Global Calgary joined thousands of Calgarians to honour the sacrifices of our veterans this Remembrance Day, with a special live broadcast of ceremonies from the Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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The Field of Crosses memorial project is an annual tribute to southern Alberta soldiers who enlisted and lost their lives while defending our freedom in Canada’s wars and peacekeeping missions.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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The Cantare Children's Choir sang at the Remembrance Day ceremony on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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No, the City of Calgary isn't using helicopters to disinfect the city.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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There was a 21-gun salute by the Canadian Armed Forces artillery cannons — a gun fired every minute for 20 minutes at the ceremony.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Thousands of Calgarians honoured veterans on Remembrance Day at Field of Crosses on Sunday.
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Located in city park space along Memorial Drive, the startlingly visual memorial was made up of over 3,400 white crosses, displayed from Nov. 1 to 12. Each cross is engraved with the soldier’s name, age at death, rank, regiment and date of death.
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Global News coverage began at 10:30 a.m. MT with news anchor Linda Olsen hosting our live broadcast of #CalgaryRemembers.
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People visit Field of Crosses in Calgary on Friday, Nov. 9.
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Field of Crosses in Calgary is pictured on Friday, Nov. 9.
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Field of Crosses in Calgary is pictured on Friday, Nov. 9.
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People visit Field of Crosses in Calgary on Friday, Nov. 9.
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A visitor reads the name on a cross in Field of Crosses in Calgary on Friday, Nov. 9.
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A visitor walks through Field of Crosses in Calgary on Friday, Nov. 9.
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The annual Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Field of Crosses Nov. 11, 2021.
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Poppies at Field of Crosses in Calgary pictured on Friday, Nov. 9.
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Olsen introduced viewers to veterans, youth and volunteers from the Field of Crosses, who reflected on why Remembrance Day is so important for them and why other Canadians should take time to remember the sacrifices of our veterans.
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Global’s Jordan Witzel was Master of Ceremonies for the Remembrance Day ceremony itself.
Two minutes of silence are annually observed at 11 a.m. of the 11th day of the 11th month, marking the moment the fighting of the First World War ended in 1918.
WATCH: Global Calgary’s coverage of Remembrance Day 2018.
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The Field of Crosses project, which began in 2009, is an initiative of the McCann Family Foundation, started by Murray McCann, and the late George Bittman of the Calgary Poppy Fund.
At sunrise each morning from Nov. 1 to 11, a flag-raising ceremony was held at the Field of Crosses, which included a local school singing the national anthem, a bugler and a piper. The ceremonies were also attended by family and friends of fallen soldiers, veterans and members of the public as well as national, provincial and local dignitaries.
Separate ceremonies were held at sunset each evening when the flags were lowered.
It is estimated more than 4,000 men and women from southern Alberta have been killed serving our country. Each year, additional crosses are added to the Field of Crosses.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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Field of Crosses memorial in Calgary, Alta.
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