SLIDESHOW: Hundreds fill Cenotaph grounds to mark Remembrance Day

CORNWALL, Ontario – Hundreds of patriotic Cornwallites filled the area around the Cornwall Cenotaph Tuesday to mark Remembrance Day.

Under a bright shining sun that beguiled mid-November, veterans, soldiers and rank and file residents jammed the street and sidewalks surrounding Memorial Park to take part in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony to mark the sacrifices of soldiers, past and present.

Hugh Primeau Jr., chair of the local Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign, reminded those in attendance that not only should veterans of foreign conflicts be immortalized, but others closer to home.

“We have to remember the First World War, the Second World War, Korea, the Gulf War and Afghanistan,” he said. “We also have to remember the others at home now and in the future.”

Primeau was undoubtedly referencing the recent murders of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent that has galvanized the nation.

Primeau also thanked the swelling mass of people in and around the park.

“It’s fantastic to see the turnout,” he said. “And I hope it’s not all because of the weather.”

It wasn’t.

Those who lined Second Street West, and others in Memorial Park, broke into thunderous applause when veterans filed past them.

There were also applause for existing members of the SD and G Highlanders, who were piped into the ceremony after parading from the Cornwall Armoury.

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