After posting this morning, I tuned into CBC to watch the repatriation ceremony of Newfoundland and Labrador's unknown soldier.
Hundreds of folks stood quiet for hours, most not protected from the rain, a fitting tribute considering the ceremony.
A highlight for me was to hear the words of the Royal Canadian Legion's Padre, Ian Wishart, a man who looked old enough to have served in the First World War. Yet, his voice was strong and his message clear.
A jarring moment came when Justin Trudeau said that "the First World War proved that Canada could punch above its weight". Unfortunately, he has succeeded in making sure that we are no longer capable of doing that. We don't weigh as much today in the world's eyes and have very little punch left.
Nevertheless, it's still a great day to be a Canadian.
Canada is now the only Commonwealth nation that has two unknown soldier tombs - one in the former Dominion of Newfoundland and one in the Dominion of Canada.
And Newfoundlanders who lost relatives in the Battle of the Somme can now reach a form of closure - they can assume that the unknown soldier is their ancestor who has "come back from away" to be honoured by all.
Well done!
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Did some gardening today, but that's old news.
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Stay well.
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