Remembrance Day at Beechwood lets visitors show their support for the Canadian Armed Forces

This Remembrance Day, those who gather at Beechwood Cemetery’s National Military Cemetery (NMC) will have the opportunity to honour the acts of service and sacrifice of those who died in the line of duty. In doing so, they will also learn stories of some of the men and women who served their nation in war and in peace.

This Remembrance Day, those who gather at Beechwood Cemetery’s National Military Cemetery (NMC) will have the opportunity to honour the acts of service and sacrifice of those who died in the line of duty.

In doing so, they will also learn stories of some of the men and women who served their nation in war and in peace.

Nick McCarthy is Beechwood’s director of marketing, communications and community outreach. He says Nov. 11 is Beechwood’s busiest visitation day, and he encourages people to take the opportunity to explore the NMC. It consists of four sections and is renowned for its natural beauty and gardens.

“You’ll be side-by-side with people who sacrifice so much — active Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans and their families,” McCarthy says. “Take the time to walk through the four sections and understand there is over 200 years of history here. Every background and religion is represented. When people come to visit, they see themselves reflected in the Canadian Armed Forces members who sacrificed so much.”

Bérubé says such a walk-through not only allows people to continue their remembrance after the ceremony, but it also serves as a teaching moment.

“We usually see people peacefully stroll after the ceremony, sometimes to pay respect in a more private way to the grave of a family member or friend or simply to someone they chose with no particular reason,” he says.

“Doing so and looking at the names, badges and symbols engraved on the headstones often leads us to learn things.” This year’s Remembrance Day service, say Bérubé and McCarthy, takes on an even more important meaning. That’s because this is the first Remembrance Day ceremony at the NMC to be held without restriction since 2019.

“During the pandemic, we certainly understood the importance of respecting the public health measures in place to protect the health and life of everyone,” says Bérubé. “In that context, taking the time to remember our Fallen in a different way and teaching our youth on remembrance was what mattered. Now that these times are behind us, we certainly already feel the population is eager to attend in person. I see a grateful nation that truly wants to honour those who have placed themselves in harm’s way on behalf of the people of Canada.”

Adds McCarthy, “We should also view Remembrance Day as an opportunity to remember the multiple levels of service of the men and women laid to rest at the NMC. Their service was not only on battlefields but also in Canada in their voluntarism, disaster relief and being a vibrant part of our communities that we can always rely on.

”Throughout the year, the NMC hosts numerous events that allow people to pay respect, introduce youth to the concept of remembrance and pave the way for Nov. 11. Leading up to Remembrance Day, the mourning and honouring of servicemen and women at Beechwood begins on Nov. 1 with No Stone Left Alone. This ceremony involves students and others placing poppies on every soldier’s headstone in different sections of the cemetery.

“We sometimes tend to take our way of life and freedom in a democratic country for granted,” McCarthy says. “Those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty often did so in a fight to protect our country, population and their own family from a real danger. Honouring them at a Remembrance ceremony is a beautiful way to remember them and their sacrifice as well as perpetuate their memories to younger generations, helping them understand what it means.”