Durham College's President Emeritus Dr. Gary Polonsky and President Leah Myers, observe as the campus community gathered to honour soldiers during the college's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Students, faculty and staff joined Your Student Association, Durham College President Leah Myers and other key members of the campus community in honouring the men and women who have given their lives in battle to protect Canadian rights and freedoms.
Beginning with a bagpipe processional and memorial slideshow, the Remembrance Day ceremony featured speakers, singers, poetry readers and one minute of silence. A sea of people adorned in poppies paid their respects during the November 9 ceremony.
"Canadian veterans are recognized not only here, but they're recognized all over the world," said Murray Genoe, Trent University representative for the UOIT Academic Council.
Dr. Gary Polonsky, president emeritus of Durham College, paid tribute to fallen soldiers, along with members of the Writers Circle, who read original poems. Myers touched on how troops, today and in the past, represent all Canadians in accepting their call to duty to defend this country. She spoke about students who are trying to find their footing in their education, careers and lives and related that thought to soldiers.
"The soldiers we honour today accepted their call to duty, wondering if they would find their footing in life. Many did not," Myers said.
The UOIT fraternity, Zeta Psi, participated by delivering a reading of In Flanders Fields, written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and originally published in December 1915.
The ceremony also featured the singing of O Canada and Amazing Grace. Lest we forget.