FOG BLOG REMEMBRANCE DAY LOG: REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES IN OTTAWA, CANDY GREFF, SILVER CROSS MOTHER

National Remembrance Day ceremony marks 80th anniversary of Dieppe raid Queen Elizabeth also remembered with placement of wreath at memorial Friday's ceremony was first time since 2019 veterans and CAF members gathered at National War Memorial This year's national Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa marks the first time since 2019 that veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members were able to gather in the nation's capital without pandemic restrictions to remember those who lost their lives in service of their country. The Silver Cross Mother who laid a wreath this year is Candy Greff who is mother to fallen soldier her son from Saskatchewan Byron Greff who lost his life by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan!

After a moment of silence, CF-18 Hornets flew over Parliament Hill to honour those who serve and have served Canada in the military.

Mag. Caleb Gray, currently serving in Latvia where Canada is helping to shore up Europe's eastern flank, told CBC News that he wanted to thank Canadians for marking the day and for paying respects to Canada's fallen soldiers.

"It really means a lot to the soldiers overseas, who are away from their families and as well to the families of the fallen," he said.

"There are a lot of soldiers who are not in uniform," he said. "We have the luxury, while we're still serving to have each other to cling to, and it's very important that Canadians gather around [because] those soldiers who are not around are often carrying a heavy cross." Stories from Ottawa's Remembrance Day ceremony For many of the thousands gathered around the National War Memorial Friday, being there for the country's largest Remembrance Day ceremony was personal.

"It is so emotional, it really is," said Deborah Jones, who tightly and proudly held a framed photo of her father who served in the Navy and passed away a few weeks ago.

He didn't want a service, she said, so she brought the photo to the ceremony.

"I feel really privileged to be here today and I hope he's with us and knows how much we love him and appreciate what he did." Those who have served were among the crowd.

"Look at all these veterans walking around," said retired Maj. Francois Rufiange. "Some of them are leaning forward they have so many medals—it's incredible."

After the ceremony, he was going to a school to speak with students about the importance of this day.

"I'm going to tell the kids this afternoon to have a place in their heart for a few minutes just to think about those that gave their lives for what we enjoy today which is liberty because otherwise we don't know where we would be."

Shelly Williamson was thinking of her father and brother who served.

"I just think of all the people that sacrificed and that should mean so much to everybody but it really means so much to me."