The Porters Lake cenotaph saw hundreds show up on Remembrance Day. For Warrant Officer Saad Manzoor, it was a special year. It’s his first Remembrance Day after being deployed to Kuwait. “Getting to be here with the unit after a deployment and being away from home just makes it a little bit more special and just a little bit more closer of a community feeling,” he told CTV News. For many in the area outside Halifax, this day holds a special place to honour family, loved ones, and Canadians who have sacrificed in the line of service. “My young fellow’s on the other side of the planet right now,” said retired Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Dan Ash of his son, who is over in the South China Sea. “Our fathers served in the military. Our brothers were in the military. Our cousins. Nephews. Being a veteran is a family business. And for myself, my son is a veteran.” His brother-in-law, retired Chief Warrant Officer Robert Thompson, added that this day is special, especially when sharing it with the next generation. “Since retirement, being able to come home here and celebrate the ceremony here. It’s bigger every year,” said Thompson. “I think what’s been going on in the news lately out west is probably rallying everybody this time of year to get to a cenotaph. I think it’s great when you see young kids like the choir singing. It’s that kind of, not celebration, but just observance. I like to be part of it.” After retiring in 2015, Thompson said one Remembrance Day ceremony really sticks out. In 2010 in Afghanistan, the camp he was on had 900 people from 13 different nations. “All our flags were represented,” he recalled. “And to have everybody that normally doesn’t wear a poppy - because we had lots of poppies that November - to see everybody at our camp paying respects, it was it was mind blowing.” For Thompson, to feel that energy on the base it becomes even more significant to bring it to one of the ceremonies taking place across the country. “It just makes it that much more important to show up,” he said. Manzoor echoed the sentiment of showing up. “It’s always really nice to know that the people that we are serving also see that it is an important day that they come out to support us,” he said of the crowd. “That the support means a lot because that is who we do this for. And it’s just a pleasure to be able to come out and see all the community come out as well.” Ash, who is also president of the Legion Branch 161, said it’s a good reminder for folks to realize the importance of the military, which has a rich history in Nova Scotia. “It’s remembrance as well as our country grows. People have to understand why we have freedom here,” he said. “And I think that’s the important message and continue to contribute. People need to serve in the military, in the Mounties and after they retire, they continue to serve to support veterans and the community.” “We wouldn’t have the life that we do today if it wasn’t for those who served before us and made many sacrifices,” added Manzoor. “It is really, you know, we’re standing on the shoulders of giants and continuing to do the work that they did for us and continue to make Canada safer and just a better place for everybody.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
