Remembrance Day - Royal Tour 2014

Prior to Remembrance Day Ceremony, His Excellency presented Her Royal Highness with the third clasp of the Canadian Forces’ Decoration. The Canadian Forces’ Decoration is awarded to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed 12 years of service. A clasp is awarded for every subsequent period of 10 years of qualifying service.

The Governor General delivered remarks during the luncheon.

Following the Remembrance Day Ceremony, Their Excellencies hosted a luncheon in honour of the 2014-2015 National Silver Cross Mother, Mrs. Gisèle Michaud, who was accompanied by her family.

His Excellency, Her Royal Highness and the Silver Cross Mother witnessed the March Past marking the end of the ceremony.

His Excelleny, Her Royal Highness and the Silver Cross Mother witnessed the March Past, marking the end of the ceremony.

The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief shook the hands of veterans.

The National War Memorial was rededicated. The inscription, In Service to Canada / Au service du Canada, was added to the Memorial to formally recognize all Canadians who served in the past, who serve today, and who will serve in the future. The Memorial was also inscribed with the dates of the Afghanistan mission and the South African War.

Flowers were laid at the National War Memorial.

Thousands of people, including veterans, gathered for the event.

The ceremony had an added special significance this year, following the events that took place at the National War Memorial on October 22, 2014, and the death of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo.

The ceremony took place under a glorious sun.

His Excellency and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal laid wreaths of flowers.

Her Royal Highness read a message from Her Majesty The Queen: “Seventy five years ago, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth dedicated this National War Memorial in honour of all those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. Today it is fitting that, with this ceremony of rededication, we pay tribute to all those Canadians who in the intervening years have laid down their lives in the service of peace, justice and freedom. ELIZABETH R.”

The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief delivered an address for the rededication of the War Memorial: "Look upward now, and against the sky see the bronze figures of Peace and Freedom. Their arms are linked. They cannot be separated. Because freedom without peace is agony, and peace without freedom is slavery, and we will tolerate neither. This is the truth we owe our dead."

The ceremony pays tribute to those who died while serving their country.

As per tradition, the ceremony took place at the National War Memorial, in Ottawa.

Their Excellencies, joined by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, attended the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial.

Their Excellencies and Her Royal Highness and Vice Admiral Laurence were joined by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen (right, next to Vice Admiral Laurence), the Silver Cross Mother, Mrs. Gisèle Michaud and her husband (left, next to the Governor General) and by Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino (far right).