Beau and Keanna Holtz wrapped their four-month-old baby in a blanket, dressed three young children in their Sunday best and drove to the Memorial Day service in Victoria Friday from Sooke to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in her name freedom and peace. “As a military veteran, I think it’s important to bring myself and my family here,” said Beau Holtz, who was stationed at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, and served with the 4th Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. “It’s emotional, it’s emotional, I’m just trying to listen and slow my mind down and pay attention and focus on why we’re here,” he said. Keanna Holtz said her father was in the military and she also felt it was important to let their children know about the sacrifices made for the peace we have today. “We live in Canada and we’re really thankful for that.” The Memorial Day ceremony at the cenotaph on the grounds of the BC Legislature. once again saw large crowds after two years of smaller gatherings due to the pandemic. The ceremony honored those who served in World Wars I and II, Korea 1950-1953 and peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan, among others. As the Victoria Arion Male Choir sang In Flanders Fields, a man cut through the crowd part way through the ceremony and walked before the cenotaph shouting. He called for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, to leave NATO and “you can defend Africa … you show up every year for this bull—— but you don’t stop wars.” Officials, soldiers, veterans and the crowd stood still and the chorus continued throughout. He then walked off shouting profanities and was peacefully escorted away by Victoria Police. Victoria Police Chief Del Manack said he was glad police were on the scene to escort the person away, allowing the rest of the ceremony to go ahead. “I was at the Esquimalt ceremony laying a wreath,” Manak said. “Today is to honor our fallen heroes and recognize those who serve our country here and abroad.” Chaplain Andrew Gates of the Royal Canadian Legion later said in an interview “if he had stayed a little longer to hear what I had to say, I would have said the same things he did, only more calmly.” Gates also spoke about the paradoxes of our world today and called on “champions of peace” to rise up, and he addressed concern on the minds of people on Friday – like the Holtz family who brought four children into the world and hope that peace will prevail . “There’s an image in my mind today — it’s of an angel holding a dying soldier,” Gates said at the ceremony. “It’s not an image that the soldier wanted, it’s an image of creation lost, an image of the insanity of human conflict, of war,” Gates said. “And it’s insanity. Inflation and food insecurity are said to be partly the result of war, unions are striking to keep up with inflation, energy costs are skyrocketing and in many parts of the world others are starving for lack of food.’ He spoke of the failure of diplomacy in our world and the truth that “no one wins a war”, as he asked people to open their eyes, minds and souls to be grateful for the miracles that surround us and “the dignity of humanity. “ Despite the bitter sadness some feel about the state of our world today, ours is not the only generation grieving, he said. “As we honor those who have gone before, listen and listen to the cries of so many who are suffering right now, we raise up in our midst champions of peace, leaders who can pull us back from the brink of destruction,” Gates said. “Let peace fill our hearts, the world, the universe.” Gates said after the service that his message is “we have to do something ourselves, we are responsible.” We must remember “the first casualty of war is the truth,” he said. Stephanie Greaves opened the ceremony with the song O Canada, followed by the playing of the Last Post, the observance of two minutes’ silence and Major Roger McGuire, Canadian Scottish Regiment, playing the lament Flowers of the Forest. This was followed by a gun salute from the 5th Field Regiment. Silver Cross mother Sheila Fynes attended with her husband Shaun and son Michael, and laid the first wreath on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or daughter in military service. Fynes, the mother of Cpl. Stewart Langridge. After deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan, Langridge developed post-traumatic stress disorder and took his own life in 2008. “I’m so proud to still have the honor of laying a wreath,” Fiennes said in an interview. “It just brings Stuart right back to the army where he was so happy.” Despite the disturbing events around, “I think the world is going to be okay and I think there are enough good people, more than bad, and I think the world is evolving and changing and it’s going to be exciting.” Shaun Fynes said his thoughts were with his son and the “huge honour” to be there for other military families. Canadian Forces Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson attended with Chief Petty Officer Arvind Lee and C. Andre-Felix Sanfacon. Lieutenant Commander Janet Austin was not at the ceremony in Victoria and instead attended a similar ceremony in Vancouver. Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore attended on behalf of Premier John Horgan. Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto and Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter were also there. After the ceremony, people placed their poppies on the cenotaph. [email protected]
