Faculty, staff, students and families have all been touched by the sacrifices made by Canada’s veterans, UWindsor president Alan Wildeman said Tuesday to a crowd of hundreds gathered in front of Memorial Hall in observance of Remembrance Day.

“We all wish we could have even a moment with each and every man and woman who gave their life, to tell them we will never forget the sacrifice they made because of what our country believes in,” Dr. Wildeman said.

He noted that the Legion has distributed a record 20 million poppies this year.

Organizer Mary-Ann Rennie said it appeared to be a record turnout for the annual ceremony.

“I think it’s a combination of things: the recent events in Ottawa, the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, and just a growing awareness of the fact that we hold this event on our campus,” she said.

Besides Wildeman’s address, the program included bagpiper Ryan Burchiel playing The Lament; music student Amanda Hanson playing trumpet solos of The Last Post and Reveille; a reading of John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields by drama professor Brian Taylor; a prayer from Rev. Paul McGill of Assumption University; letters home from Canadian soldiers, read by professor Lionel Walsh and drama students Keaton Kwok and Sean Williams; singing of O Canada led by a choir from the School of Creative Arts; and concluded with the laying of a wreath below the commemorative plaque in Memorial Hall.

See an album of images from the event on the UWindsor Facebook page.