A Salute To The Fallen

In the evenings leading up to Remembrance Day again this year, Centre Block on Parliament Hill was illuminated by a projection of poppies descending its architecture from six until midnight. Have a look at my video if you want to see this in motion.

That same evening I walked over to the War Memorial and photographed its statues in the spotlight.

This is a view of those statues from November 10th. Preparations around the Memorial for the following day's service had been well underway.

The following day I took up my usual spot northwest of the Memorial before the Remembrance Day service. Pipers from the military led the veterans out from this spot in the lead-up to the beginning of the event. Members of each service- army, navy, and air force, along with one Mountie- stand sentry at each corner of the Memorial throughout the service.

The ceremony, consisting of music, prayers and remarks in French and English (and even a First Nations language), the 21 gun salute by the field artillery, a fly past by fighter jets, and the placing of wreaths, was followed by the march past of the assembly, led by the pipers again. The veterans, members of each service branch, Mounties, students at the Royal Military College in Kingston, cadets, the Governor General's guards, and the artillery moved down this way for a march past the Governor General herself, who had participated in the ceremony.

Afterwards members of the public could come up and place wreaths or poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As you can see, it was quite packed, so I did that later in the day after coming back from the War Museum. I will have more from this day in the coming days.