NEWS RELEASE

City Hall to be Decorated with Poppies in Honour of Vimy Ridge Day

(Halifax, Thursday, April 8, 2010) - In honour of the passing this year of Canada’s last-known veteran of the Great War (1914-18), HRM is doing its part to honour all First World War service men and women on what has been declared by the Federal government as Vimy Ridge Day.
On April 9, 2010 - the 93rd anniversary of the capture of Vimy Ridge in France - City Hall will post in its windows poppies in memory of all World War I veterans to pay tribute to “The End of an Era”.

As part of the End of an Era commemoration, a national campaign has sprung into action. Each One Remembered -- On se souvient de chacun lets all Canadians have a chance to pay tribute to those who served. Schools, homes and businesses across the country will have red poppies in their windows as the sun rises on the day of the official ceremonies in Ottawa, in Europe and across the country.

Mayor Peter Kelly encourages all HRM residents to colour the poppy – found at http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/images/kidszone/colour/Poppy.pdf and place it in their windows in remembrance of these Canadian heroes.

“There were not only incredible sacrifices made to take Vimy Ridge, but the bravery and skill of our military personnel from Canada and Newfoundland was heralded around the world and is noted in our history as Canada’s coming of age,” Mayor Kelly said. “It is an honour to take a moment to thank and salute such an incredible generation of military heroes.”

A provincial commemorate ceremony will be held in Grand Parade at the cenotaph at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010.

John "Jack" Babcock, Canada's last known veteran of World War I, passed away on February 18, 2010. He served with approximately 640,000 other Canadians and Newfoundlanders. It was his wish that he not be given a State funeral upon his death, but that our country, instead, honour all World War I veterans instead of just one.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
Halifax Regional Municipality
490-4010

Shaune MacKinlay
HRM Public Affairs
490-6531