This is a powerful and moving tribute to those who served and died for peace.

Every November, an unassuming green space along Memorial Drive in Calgary is transformed into a field of simple white crosses adorned with the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for Canada.

Known as “Field of Crosses”, the visually stunning exhibition of more than 3,500 crosses honoring deceased residents of southern Alberta returns for a 16th year.

Located north of the Bow River, on the west side of the Center Street Bridge, it is a fitting location for such a tribute.

Memorial Drive itself is lined with trees planted almost a century ago, in honor of those who sacrificed their lives for Canada during the Great War (First World War).

The Field of Crosses will host a flag raising and lowering ceremony at sunrise and sunset each day between November 1 and 11, culminating with a special Remembrance Day service attended by thousands of Calgarians, from members of the army and their friends. , loved ones and families of the dead.

It’s been a Calgary tradition since November 2009, when local businessman and philanthropist Murray McCann founded and helped organize the first Field of Crosses And 10 days of Remembrance.

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The event is now a registered charity, supported by donations from the public.

Daily tributes at this year’s ceremonies will include:

November 1 – Royal Canadian Air Force Day
November 2 – Youth Day
November 3 – Memorial Cross Families Day
November 4 – Royal Canadian Navy Day
November 5 – Canadian Army Day
November 6 – Day in honor of women of war (sunrise) / Tribute to the fallen Jews (sunset)
November 7 – First Responders Day
November 8 – Indigenous Veterans Day
November 9 – USA Tribute (sunrise) / Animals in War (sunset)
November 10 – United Nations Peacekeeper (sunrise) / Night of Lights celebrating peace (sunset)
November 11 – Special Remembrance Day Ceremony

Linda Olsen, former long-time Global Calgary News anchor, will serve as master of ceremonies at this year’s Field of Crosses Remembrance Day service.

For those unable to attend in person, the Remembrance Day ceremony will also be broadcast live on Global Calgary hosted by anchor Joel Senick starting Monday, November 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

You can watch it online, YouTubeon World Television and on the Global TV application.

Reflecting on the history of the Field of Crosses, McCann says it was created “after a revelation I had in Menlo, Georgia, just before Memorial Day in the United States.”

“I was driving in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia and came to a historic hamlet named Menlo. On one side of the road were crosses each bearing the name and other information of a man or woman who had sacrificed his life for his country in foreign wars.

“The impact of so many crosses on so many people in this small region who made the ultimate sacrifice so that their fellow human beings could live freely shocked me and caused me to stop on the side of the road and sobbing uncontrollably in gratitude. »

“How many people in southern Alberta, I wondered, had sacrificed their lives so that I and my fellow Albertans could live and prosper in freedom,” McCann wondered.

When he returned to Calgary, he contacted a friend who worked for the Royal Canadian Legion.

In November 2009, and “thanks to the great cooperation of Canadian Army veterans, volunteers and the City of Calgary, we had our first field of crosses and 11 days of commemoration.”

McCann says that this year, in partnership with Value Canadaorganizers will also “welcome more than 2,000 students in a program at the Field of Crosses designed to teach them about the wars Canadians have fought in and the horrific price that was paid by so many to keep our country free “.

McCann says he is very happy that so many families have attended services since then and walked through the Field of Crosses to pay their respects.

“We must never forget. We will never forget,” says McCann.

“Each day that passes takes us further away from the wars in which our country fought, heroes pass, time passes, the present stands in the way of the past. »

“The field of crosses is very important,” adds McCann.

“It is up to all of us to ensure that the legacy of our fallen nations is passed from our generation to the next, and to all generations beyond. »

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