Legion’s Newfoundland and Labrador Command sparks momentous repatriation and commemoration
2024年6月26日 - 11:00PM
The Royal Canadian Legion’s Newfoundland and Labrador Command is
now bracing for what will be another highly emotional commemorative
event, after recently helping repatriate the remains of an unknown
Newfoundland soldier back home from France.
“I am deeply moved by the actions of our comrades at
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Command,” says Bruce Julian,
Dominion President. “Their vision and persistence in making this
happen will have an enduring and positive impact in that province
and also touches citizens from across Canada and beyond.”
In May, a special delegation traveled from Canada to France to
receive the remains of an unknown First World War soldier from
Newfoundland who served at Beaumont-Hamel in France; at a time when
that province was a separate dominion of the British Empire and not
yet part of Canada.
“Many Canadians would be unfamiliar with the degree of sacrifice
made during that war by a comparatively large contingent of
soldiers from this region,” says Berkley Lawrence, Immediate Past
President of NL Command and First Vice President of the Legion’s
Dominion Command. A veteran himself, and deeply moved by the
repatriation event, Lawrence says witnessing the act of receiving
the remains of the unknown soldier from the French military,
touched him to the core.
“I was feeling all kinds of emotions even more deeply than I
knew I would,” he says. “I still am.” Lawrence’s own grandfather
served during the First World War including during the Battle of
the Somme and later in Gueudecourt, in northern France, where a
memorial now stands in honour of Newfoundland soldiers.
On July 1, the unknown soldier will be interred at the
refurbished Newfoundland National War Memorial which will be
rededicated to mark its 100th anniversary. These events were
planned and are being executed in close partnership with all levels
of government and additional supporters.
A challenging dual project in the works for several years, the
idea was that of former NL Command President and veteran Frank
Sullivan. He believed there was a need to honour all
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served, some of whom remain
unknown – and are resting elsewhere in the world.
“I really felt it was important to Newfoundland and Labrador,
and our country, to ensure we never forget the sacrifices made by a
significant part of our province’s population during both world
wars, up until joining Canada in 1949,” he explains. Sullivan says
the unknown soldier will symbolize all those from the province who
gave their lives serving in all branches of the military and in
respective support services. “Descendants and supporters of those
who served, died and lie in “Known unto God” graves will now be
able to pay their respects in person at our National War Memorial,”
he says.
Sullivan worked closely with Lawrence and others to help
orchestrate elements of the repatriation and the upcoming
commemoration. That province’s national war memorial honours the
collective sacrifices and service of all those from Newfoundland
and Labrador who have served.
The unknown soldier will lie in state in the East Block Lobby of
the Confederation Building in St. John’s from June 28-30 and the
public is invited to pay their respects. On July 1, Memorial Day in
NL, the unknown soldier will be laid to rest at the Newfoundland
National War Memorial site. The rededication of the refurbished
memorial which overlooks the harbour at the site of the annual
Memorial Day service, will take place at the same time.
Join us July 1st at 7:30am EST on Facebook as we livestream
coverage of the Unknown Newfoundland Soldier being laid to rest.
Tune in here.
Read more on the centennial of the Newfoundland National War
Memorial.Read more about the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.Read more
about the Legion’s Newfoundland and Labrador Command.
About The Royal Canadian LegionFounded in 1925,
the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community
service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a
national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S. and
Europe. With 250,000 members, many of whom volunteer an
extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in
our numbers.
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