On the eve of Remembrance Day, the cenotaphs and monuments that pay homage to those who served and lost their lives did not stand alone. Cadets across Waterloo Region and beyond took part in a tradition that has grown across the province ahead of Remembrance Day, looking to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice. WO1 Pacey O’Kelly of the 80 KW Spitfire Squadron spoke to the moment’s significance while on guard at Kitchener’s cenotaph on Duke Street. “We’re standing vigil at the cenotaph. It’s, one of the memorials for the Canadian Armed Forces, and we’re participating in a very long legacy,” he told CTV News. Participants on the ground in downtown Kitchener were scheduled to stand guard anywhere from five hours to north of half a day. While the temperature dipped as the night grew, it only gave perspective to what the fallen soldiers endured on any given day. “It shows us a little bit of what the soldiers went through the late nights, the standing still, all that stuff,” said WO Colton Jacobs. The practice branches out beyond the region to the entire country, with different ways of honouring the fallen soldiers at each service. In Cambridge, their vigil began with a traditional drumhead service, with all 53 cadets spending the entire night outside. “We do a community based service that, speaks of some of the history, as well as as members of the community who have served and, how they connect to the city,” Capt. Chris Mitchell of the 296 City of Cambridge Royal Canadian Air Cadets said. “We have enough cadets that we can maintain the vigil overnight, through the morning and throughout the service tomorrow.” Even with people having busy lives, WO2 Benjamin Lees explained that seeing someone standing guard could be the visual reminder that some need to remember those who fought for society’s freedom today. “I think it’s really special that we go all night. I think it means more and it kind of shows how much we care for what we’re doing... and trying to make it as big of an impact as we can,” he said. “People have busy lives, they don’t understand what’s happening and they might not even know it’s Remembrance Day. But when they walk by this evening and they see people up on the post standing guard, they’ll think about it.” Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held throughout the region and nationwide to honour Canadian soldiers on Wednesday morning.
