Quinte remembers fallen Canadian soldiers

By QNet Staff

BELLEVILLE – People in Belleville, Quinte West, Prince Edward County, Napanee were among those nationwide paying tribute to fallen Canadian soldiers at Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Loyalist College President Maureen Piercy spoke at the college’s Remembrance Day ceremony. She talked about why the day matters.

“The symbol of remembrance is as important as ever,” she said.

Canadian soldier Maj. Allan Ferriss spoke at the ceremony about the importance of support from the nation.

“When we send soldiers overseas, we send the whole country,” he said.

Olivia Millard, a Loyalist student government representative, read the poem In Flanders Fields to the audience in Alumni Hall.

In Belleville, hundreds of people gathered in Memorial Park for the city’s ceremony.

President of branch 99 of the Belleville Legion, Andy Anderson, spoke to the crowd about the recent deaths of Canadian soldiers.

“Recently we lost two more members of our military family, both struck down by homegrown assassins,” he said. “We honour Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. We will remember them.”

Alain Coutu, a former Canadian soldier of 27 years, attended the ceremony and said he was there to support the people he fought beside.

“I come here every year to say thanks to all the veterans who have sacrificed their lives,” he said.

A band marched into Memorial Park for the ceremony and bagpipes were played.

Mayor-elect Taso Christopher attended the ceremony and placed a wreath on the Memorial Park cenotaph.

The Remembrance Day ceremony was also held at French school École élémentaire catholique L’Envol in Trenton.

More than 200 people attended the event. After parents of students who serve in the military marched in, O Canada was sung. Later in the ceremony, there was a moment of silence.