OTTAWA — Thousands of Canadians flocked to the capital on Friday to pay their respects at the Vimy Ridge commemoration, a ceremony that comes less than two months after the death of this country’s last remaining First World War veteran.
John Babcock died at age 109 in Spokane, Wash., where he settled after moving to the U.S. after the war. While the Ontario-born Mr. Babcock didn’t want a formal state funeral, he agreed before his death that Canada ought to commemorate the contribution of all those who served in that war.
The 93rd anniversary of the pivotal Battle of Vimy Ridge, usually a low-key event, was thus a grander affair this year. The ceremony kicked off just after 11 a.m. ET at the War Memorial under a grey-cloud sky in Ottawa with a salute to the Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean.
The Governor General and Prime Minister Stephen Harper then greeted the war veterans lined up in front of the memorial, some of them wearing plastic rain jackets to cover their uniforms and medals. Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of Defence Staff, was also in attendance.
The ceremony included a CF-18 flyby, a Métis smudging ceremony and a 21-gun salute.
As a light rain fell, the prime minister addressed the crowd, speaking about the sacrifices made by young fighters in a war that helped define Canada as a nation.
“Fierce warriors with tender hearts, rock-ribbed patriots with a sense of international responsibility, these men and women embodied a greatness that later generations of Canadians have striven to emulate. With the passing of John Babcock only a few weeks ago, we have sadly lost our last living link to this generation of admirable Canadians,” said Mr. Harper.
“But while those who fought in that epic struggle may have passed entirely from the face of the earth, their legacy lives on all around us. These men and women inherited the country born of the dream of the Fathers of Confederation and they helped to transform it into the Canada that we know and love today, the most peaceful, prosperous, generous nation the world has ever known.”
He went on to say that Canadians “should not be captive to the past.”
“But, as the final trumpet sounds for the admirable Canadians, neither can we be ignorant about the price they paid, nor the gift they left us. Freedom was that gift, ladies and gentlemen; freedom, and the responsibility to use it for great purposes.
“As Canadians, let us always be tireless, as they were, for that which is right and good.”
In her speech, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean focused on the importance of memory, but also that of living in the present.
“While it is important that we acknowledge the magnitude of the contribution made by our veterans, it is just as important to recognize that of the men and women who still today go to troubled spots around the world to free entire populations from the yoke of tyranny,” Gov. Gen. Jean said.
“So, to those who came before us and to those who follow, we say: “˜Thank you. We must never forget.’ “
Before the ceremony, Queen Elizabeth shared her thoughts about the “the war to end all wars” and what she called Canada’s collective loss.
“We pause today to mark not only the 93rd anniversary of this Nation’s victory at Vimy Ridge but also to pay tribute to the passing of a truly remarkable generation who helped to end the most terrible conflict the world had ever known,”the Queen said.
“Theirs was a story of unspeakable horror, unmitigated heroism and — ultimately — of inspiring victory. This tremendous sacrifice can rightly be regarded as a defining moment in the history of Canada and is one which we will never forget.”
“In our minds and in our hearts always, we will remember them.”
In Quebec City, Premier Jean Charest met Friday at the province legislature with war veterans and families of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.
“Very few people today really measure the sacrifice made a century ago in the First World War. This is the event in the century that affected the most the development of Quebec and Canada,” Mr. Charest said.
“The Vimy Ridge battle is one that defined Canada as a country and thousands and thousands of men left their lives on the battlefield so we can have the freedoms we have today. It also gives us a sense of proportion of what Afghanistan is about and what the sacrifice of those who fight on our behalf in Afghanistan means for us,” he added.
Among the veterans gathered at the Quebec legislature was Guy Deltell, who fought in the Second World War.
“It’s a sad day, but at the same time we need to pay tribute and show our gratitude to those who fought,” said Mr. Deltell, the father of Action democratique du Quebec Leader Gerard Deltell.
“It’s a moment to look back and hope a war like that never happens again. War is never a solution — everyone loses,” he added.
About 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the First World War. Some 68,000 were killed while another 170,000 were wounded.
With a file from Marianne White and Laura Stone, Canwest News Service
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