An earlier Remembrance Day ceremony is fine
Re: “Peterborough letter: Few remaining veterans should be honoured on Nov. 11, not earlier,” Nov. 11
There have been several letters criticizing the fact that St. Joseph’s at Fleming had their Remembrance Day Service earlier than Nov. 11. We disagree.
My wife and I have attended every service since St. Joseph’s at Fleming opened some 15 years ago. They do an excellent job. Resident veterans, guest speakers, local dignitaries, cadets, Legion members, active and retired military, police, firemen, many residents, staff and family attend. The auditorium is packed. Local news are there. Pictures are in our local Peterborough Examiner. If this event were held on the Nov. 11, we would not see many participants as they would be at the local cenotaph or other Remembrance Day events.
Does it really matter, whether the date is Nov. 7 or Nov. 11, to honour our veterans and remember?
My parents lived at St. Joseph’s at Fleming when it first opened, enjoyed the last years of their lives there and they both died there. My father and mother would attend the Remembrance Day service in the auditorium and then were able to watch the local Peterborough or national service on TV on the Nov. 11. Two minutes of silence are observed at St. Joseph’s on Nov. 11 with an announcement on the PA system.
My family and my wife’s family are from the Netherlands, we were both born there just after the Second World War. We both know very well how the Canadian veterans sacrificed to free our birth country. Relatives on both sides of our family were wounded and killed.
My great-grandfather was a soldier. My younger brother, born in Canada, is a veteran of the Canadian Forces. Our oldest son is an active soldier in the Canadian Forces, with over 20 years service, and is currently deployed overseas. We are praying for his safe return.
St. Joseph’s at Fleming, keep your excellent Remembrance Day service and tradition. Lest we forget.
Peter Michielsen, volunteer and chair, St. Joseph’s at Fleming Family Council