A sorrowful day of remembrance brought several hundred people to the cenotaph at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital this morning.
The 104th annual Remembrance Day ceremony, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34, had attendees reflecting on the sacrifices made for our freedoms.
Robert Healey, an Air Force Veteran who served from 1963 to 1972, was thinking about his brother today.
"I lost several relatives who I think of on this day," he said. "I think about all of the people who died. It gets me all choked up."
Healey's youngest brother, Clifford, also served in the Air Force and was a search master. He died in November of 1971, during a search and rescue mission.
"He had actually found the guy they were looking for," he explained. "He was getting ready to drop supplies to him, and they went into a whiteout. The captain lost all horizons and flew straight into the ground."
Healey, an electronics and engineering instructor during his time in the military, says he is also thinking about several of his uncles who served in the military before him.
Gerald Henry, a British Army veteran from 1956 to 1959, said he is thinking about his father today.
"He was in the Second World War with Britain and fought the Japanese in Burma," he explained. "Veterans like my dad fought so you would have a better life."
Henry says it's important to remember and respect the veterans who fought in the wars.
"A veteran is a great person who served in the military," he said. "They should be well respected."
Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac was also thinking about his father today. Albert Crockett McIsaac served in the Second World War and was injured in combat in March 1944.
"I have great memories of him and some of the stories he told us about the war," he said of his dad, who also served as mayor of Orillia.
"Every day I'm thankful for what we have and it's because of those who made that sacrifice and fought in the wars."
McIsaac says he was happy to see some younger faces in the crowd at today's ceremony.
"It's important that we continue to remember," he said. "We need to keep passing the torch so that we never forget."
Rick Purcell, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 in Orillia, says the annual Remembrance Day ceremony is the most important community event of the year.
"There are people who say we don't need a military anymore," he said. "This event is a reminder of what the military has gone through to get us here. We're free because of the military."
