Unknown Soldier earns more prominent recognition
Niagara Falls’ Unknown Soldier was re-intered in a new and more prominent location during an official military funeral at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday.
“You’re not going to miss it now,” said Bryn Knowles, who served in the Canadian Navy during the 1960s.
“It’s long overdue. It’s important because the sacrifice that’s made should be recognized and appreciated, and this is a great way of doing that.”
Louis Frenette, a service officer who looks after veterans and represents 17 Royal Canadian Legion branches from Fort Erie to Grimsby, said the memorial — and Saturday’s ceremony — was “quite a thing to see.”
“People should remember, especially the people in the First World War because they suffered really hard,” he said.
“I think what was done here at this cemetery is going to draw more people in to sit down and reflect on what they’ve got here.”
David Vanderhyde was visiting friends in Niagara this weekend, and decided to attend Saturday’s service.
He is a Vietnam War veteran from Michigan, and represented a local Veterans of Foreign Wars branch from the state.
“I think it’s beautiful — the whole area here is beautiful,” said Vanderhyde.
“It’s just an honour to remember everybody and what they’ve done in the past, and what they’re still doing in the present.”
Hubert Lalonde, a Korean War veteran who lives in Chippawa, said he has long attended the annual parade of the Unknown Soldier, when his grave was simply identified with a small, flat marker.
“Nobody could even see it, but this is marvellous, just marvellous,” he said.
Historically, the parade of the Unknown Soldier would begin at the Morrison Street entrance to the cemetery, and veterans, legionaires and cadets would march past the Field of Honour in Section Four, and gather in the Field of Honour in Section M.
But this year, while the parade still began at the Morrison Street entrance, it was redirected to the new tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Once the parade ended at the new site, the Unknown Soldier was brought into the cemetery, from Morse and Son Funeral Home, carried by a horse and carriage, and reintered in the new tomb.
Local representatives from the Canadian military served as pallbearers.
“It’s quite overwhelming,” said Mark Richardson, manager of cemetery services for the City of Niagara Falls, who spearheaded the large-scale restoration of the cemetery’s Fields of Honour, including a more prominent location for the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“Through this experience, I’ve had an opportunity to speak to members of the legion, local veterans, and veterans from the Second World War, veterans from the Korean War, and active soldiers as well, and everyone is really quite overwhelmed by this project, and so happy to see this. We’re all feeling it’s quite fitting, and that we finally pay proper respect for our Unknown Soldier, and unknown soldiers around the world.”