Thousands pay tributes on Remembrance Day in Manitoba

Thousands of people filled Winnipeg's convention centre to honour soldiers past and present as part of a Remembrance Day many said held more meaning because of recent deaths in Canada.

More than 4,000 people were estimated to be at the downtown event hosted by the Joint Veterans Association of Manitoba and presided over byLt.-Gov. Philip Lee.

They broke into applause at the announcement by Rev. Bruce Miles of the names ofWarrant Officer Patrice Vincent andCanadian Forces reservist Cpl. NathanCirillo, who died days apart during attacks near Montrealand in Ottawa, respectively.

Miles, whose brother was killed in the Second World War, gave the address at the ceremony, telling stories of individual soldiers who died, not only in battle, but also from succumbing to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"And what can we say to Nathan and Patrice, Charlie, Russell, Henry, Alf, Clive, Franklin, Wally, Gordon and thousands of others? All we can say is, thank you," Miles said.

Deeply meaningful

An Afghanistan war veteran says this Remembrance Day is deeply meaningful for Canadians fighting terrorism.

Brandon's Glen Kirkland was seriously wounded in 2008 while fighting in Afghanistan.Three soldiers with him died.

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This year Remembrance Day is special for all Canadians because of Vincent and Cirillo and three Mountieswho died inMonctonin June, he said.

RCMP Const. Douglas James Larche, 40, Const. Dave Joseph Ross, 32, and Const. Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, 45, were killed while responding to reports of a heavily-armed gunman walking through a Moncton neighbourhood on the evening of June 4. Justin Bourque, 24, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 75 years.

Vincent, 53, waskilled Oct. 20whenMartinCouture-Rouleau drove his car intoVincent and anotherCanadian soldier inSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

Two days later, Cirillo, 24, was killed by a lone gunman while standing guard at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.The gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, was shot and killed shortly after making his way to Parliament Hill and getting into the Centre Block.

I think it's an eye opener for Canadians that terrorism does happen here. Terrorism is a real thing and it's something that we have to stay vigilant on, Kirkland said, adding that for him, every day is Remembrance Day because he constantly thinks of his friends who died on duty.

I think of all the children in Afghanistan that are able to go to school. Those are the things I think of on Remembrance Day, is all the successes of those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Kirkland said.

Ronn Anderson, president of Winnipegs St. James Legion No. 4, agreedthere are strong feelings attached to this years services and expectedto see more people at the various ceremonies in the city.

The incidents over the last couple of weeks [and] the Mounties in Moncton may have special meanings for people and people may come out to show their appreciation for these people and show their sorrow, he said, adding he has also seen an increase in the number of people donating to the poppy campaign this year.

But, Anderson said, for the legion every year is emotional.

Our Remembrance ceremony is special and our fallen comrades, whether they fell in the First World War or any subsequent battle since then, are all special people to us and we honour them all at the same time, he said.

The St. James Legions ceremony was heldat Bruce Park on Portage Avenue.

Hundreds also turned out for ceremonies at the Manitoba legislative building, on Valour Road, and at the Minto Armouries in Winnipeg.