'It's just Newfoundland's Day:' Memorial Day ceremony honours soldiers lost at Beaumont-Hamel
Hundreds attended the National War Memorial ceremony in St. John's
Hundreds gathered in St. John's on Tuesday to commemorate the loss of Newfoundland soldiers in the First World War.
The Royal Canadian Legion hosted the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony at the National War Memorial. This also marked one year since the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed at the Memorial.
Retired U.S. Air Force veteran Ray Reiser was among those in attendance for the ceremony. He said on Memorial Day, he remembers the sacrifice made by his father-in-law in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel.
"He was one of the ones that answered the roll call that morning," said Reiser. Of the 800 Newfoundlanders who went into battle that morning in France in 1916, only 68 answered the next day's roll call.
Although July 1 is also Canada Day, Reiser said, for him, "it's just Newfoundland's Day."
Former member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Robert Marshall, also said Memorial Day is very important for Newfoundland.
"Before we were part of Canada, we were a dominion and we were our own country," he said. "It's very important and significant for people to remember such an event."
St. John's resident Deidre Smith said it was important to bring her sons so they can learn Newfoundland's history.
"It's really important for them to know where they've come from and who's died for their freedoms," said Smith.
Retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Nick Ryan, and his wife Mary Ryan brought along family from New Brunswick to the Memorial Day ceremony.
"It's wonderful to be able to tell them about why we're here because it's not all just Canada Day celebrations," said Mary Ryan.
A group of Rugby players from British Columbia also attended the ceremony.
Penticton Harlequins teammates, Babalola Durojaiye, Seamus Grant and Moses Collins along with their coach Chris Remington said they enjoyed watching the ceremony.
Remington said he was happy to bring the players to an important event.
WATCH | The annual ceremony at the National War Memorial:
The teammates, who are heading into Grade 12, said they appreciated the ceremony.
"They are the foundation for everything that we enjoy now, for the lives we get to live with our families and friends. They are the reasons we have hope for tomorrow," said Durojaiye.
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With files from Peter Cowan