On Tuesday, November 11, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum welcomed the community once again for a poignant Remembrance Day ceremony. While every day at the museum carries the spirit of remembrance, this hour at 11 o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month holds a sacred place in our national heart. It is the moment we pause together to honour the more than 2.3 million Canadians who have served in uniform, and the over 118,000 who gave their lives in service since Confederation.

David Pridham, Master of Ceremonies, guided the event with quiet dignity alongside Reverend Stewart Carolan-Evans. The morning began with the Meadowlands Salvation Army Band, followed by a solemn procession of veterans and museum members presenting the Colours, led by Pipe Major Gord Black and the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band. David G. Rohrer CD, Chairman of the Board of Directors at CWHM, opened the ceremony with heartfelt reflections on service, sacrifice, and remembrance, setting the tone for a deeply moving tribute.

At 11:00 AM, the museum joined the nation in a solemn two-minute silence. At 11:02 AM, that silence was gently lifted by the sound of a flypast. The B-25 Mitchell, flown by Leon Evans and Mark Bailey, and the Fairey Firefly, piloted by Steven McIntosh, soared overhead in a powerful tribute. Their presence in the sky reminded us of the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of those who served.

Guest speaker Peter Mansbridge, former chief correspondent for CBC News and well known for hosting Mansbridge One on One, spoke with deep conviction about the meaning of remembrance. Through three personal stories, a family legacy connected to the Lancaster, a quiet gravesite in Scotland where Canadian airmen are buried, and Walking Them Home, a project launched by Glebe Collegiate history teacher Jessica McIntyre and carried forward by her students to bring names home from a school memorial, he reminded us that remembrance lives in our actions, our compassion, and our commitment to civility across generations.

During the ceremony, ten veterans of the Second World War were acknowledged, most of them over 100 years old and a few approaching that milestone. All veterans who had served in the Second World War, the Merchant Marine, the Korean War, United Nations missions, and peacekeeping operations were asked to stand so their service could be recognized. Those who served or are currently serving with NORAD and NATO were also honoured in this way, as were members of the Canadian Forces, both regular and reserve. Veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Latvia were acknowledged, together with members of the Royal Air Force Regiment and all who have served under the Crown. Their presence and legacy gave the ceremony its deepest meaning, reminding us that remembrance is not only about the past but also about the living commitment of those who continue to serve.

With gratitude, we acknowledge the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, its staff, volunteers, and all who ensured the service was carried out with respect and care. Thanks are also given to CHCH‑TV for broadcasting the ceremony live once again, allowing Canadians across the country to take part in remembrance even if they were not able to attend in person.

On this day of remembrance, we hold close the stories and sacrifices of all who have served, and those who continue to serve. Their courage has shaped the freedoms we cherish, and their legacy lives on in how we remember. May we carry that memory with reverence, with gratitude, and with a quiet promise to never forget.

Lest we forget. We will remember them!

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