Remembrance Day 2014: Canada Rededicates National War Memorial

Canada celebrated the Remembrance Day by remembering those who had protected the country in the past. The commemoration included showing concerns about the armed services in Canada.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston rededicated the National War Memorial to add the dates of the South African War and the Afghanistan mission. "In Service to Canada - Au service du Canada" was inscribed on the memorial, CBC News reported. Johnson said that Canadians were people of respect, honour and kindness, tolerance and peace. Such qualities are a part of the national conscience in Canada as the people of the country consider them precious, he said. People who are remembered on this day believed that those qualities were precious enough to die for, Johnson added.

Queen Elizabeth's message was conveyed by Princess Anne who read it to the onlookers. "Today it is fitting that, with this ceremony of rededication, we pay tribute to all those Canadians who in the intervening years have laid down their lives in the service of peace, justice and freedom," the message said. Princess Anne joined Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Halifax.

According to Wayne Powell - the Canadian Legion's district poppy chair for Toronto, there is an increased demand for poppies which are worn to symbolise remembrance. Such practice is followed in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.K. Poppy sales in Canada were record-breaking in 2014. Around 80,000 attendees were expected in the ceremony in Ottawa. It was the largest expected crowd in 75 years. There were 100,000 people who attended the ceremony in 1939. There are 35,000 people on an average every year to attend the event.

The people who attended the Remembrance Day ceremony included Laureen Harper (the prime minister's wife), Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (Princess Anne's husband), Senate Speaker Noël Kinsella, Sharon Johnston (wife of the Governor General), Gen. Thomas Lawson (chief of defence staff), Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino and Sharon Johnston (wife of the Governor General).

The main event was held at the place where a gunman had killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo three weeks back. A couple days before that, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was run over by a Quebec man.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au