Ceremony for Battle of the Atlantic marks 80 years since end of WWII

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NL·New

This year’s ceremonial commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic marks 80 years since the extremity of the Second World War.

About 22,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians served successful the Second World War

Julia Israel · CBC News

· Posted: May 05, 2025 1:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Military members marching down a street.

A parade of Canadian Armed Forces and HMCS Cabot members marched successful unison — their footsteps coming down softly connected wet pavement on Water Street in downtown St. John's.

They marched from the St. John's Port Authority to the National War Memorial connected Sunday greeting to commemorate the extremity of the Battle of the Atlantic, and to people the 80th day of the extremity of the Second World War.

"Our state contiguous is derived from what they did 80 years ago," said Ian Kelly, a subordinate of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment advisory council.

Kelly's idiosyncratic connections to WWII are not distant, contempt the increasing years. His father, large uncle and gramps served.

"I had a large uncle who was really the skipper of an escort vessel connected convoy work successful December 1940 who was mislaid astatine sea," helium said.

WATCH | Honouring N.L. soldiers 80 years since the extremity of WWII:

Ceremony for the Battle of the Atlantic marks 80 years since the extremity of World War II

On Sunday, a parade of Canada’s Armed Forces and HMCS Cabot members commemorated the extremity of the Battle of the Atlantic and the 22 000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served successful the war. A supplication and wreath laying ceremonial took spot astatine the National War Memorial successful downtown St. John’s.

Roughly 22,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians served during that war, a clip earlier Canadian confederation.The burial of these young soldiers spans the world, Kelly says, crossed England, the Netherlands, North Africa and Italy.

Members of the HMCS Cabot and Canadian Armed Forces held Sunday's ceremony. This year's ceremonial was organized successful collaboration with the naval services and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment advisory council.

Residents young and aged took part in the ceremonial successful prideful remembrance.

Between the clacking of footsteps connected pavement and the brushed naval hymns and prayers was the ceremonious tolling of a doorbell for each vessel mislaid astatine oversea oregon successful battle.

For some, 80 years is simply a lifetime. But Kelly says it's important not to fto the passing of clip instrumentality distant the value of the sacrifices made.

"There were immoderate children present today, and I've seen different household members from radical who served during the warfare arsenic well," Kelly said. "It's fantastic to spot them crook retired to honour those from Newfoundland who served."

May 8 is the authoritative day marking the extremity of the Battle of the Atlantic and Victory successful Europe, erstwhile Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces.

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