[maple_leaf_eh]

Myself and another famous* MLU'er attended the sunset ceremonies with our families at the National War Memorial Saturday night. The irreverant gentlemanly banter was strong!

There were a few things in particular struck me about that service.

1) The usual collective of old-time veterans was very thin.
2) The cadets took their role seriously.
3) The public were each given a small white (battery operated) candle for every loss, and invited to place it on the steps surrounding the Memorial. When the moment arrive, uncommanded, people set their candles neatly side by side by side. A simple and disciplined gesture.
4) Veterans Affairs projected period images and short film clips on two speaker risers and on the memorial. Part of the show was an art history explanation of the Vimy Memorial in France. I learned something.
5) During the show's projection, you could have heard a pin drop in the crowd. Silence for several minutes! (Except the predictable jacka$$es trying to take nighttime photographs with their flash cameras.)

*Ed, I expect my payment in unmarked small denomination bills or 1937 Pattern Webbing pieces in a brown paper wrapping.