Thousands turned out for the annual 91原创 City Remembrance Day ceremony on Sunday morning.
Many in the crowd paused to thank the veterans seated in the front row. Among them was John Swityk, a 97-year-old veteran of the Regina Rifles.
鈥淚 landed on D-Day, and I went right through to the end of the war,鈥� said Swityk.
He wore his medals, including the French Legion of Honour, the Holland medal, and the Juno Beach D-Day Landing medal.
After joining the military in 1940, he was finally discharged in 1946 after the end of the Second World War.
鈥淚鈥檝e never missed an Armistice Day since then,鈥� Swityk said.
Swityk laid a white cross covered in poppies as part of the wreath-laying ceremony.
鈥淚 always lay a cross for the Regina Rifles,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he Regina Rifles lost a lot of men, right on the beach,鈥� he said. By the end of the first day, they had lost 300 men killed and injuried in the landings, he said.
The ceremony was MCed by Jim McGregor, who noted that this year marked a century since the end of the First World War.
鈥淲e trust, and we hope, and we pray that soon we will see an end to conflict, in our lifetime,鈥� McGregor said.
