This Remembrance Day ceremony, Richmond resident Wendy Lee will lead the remembrance parade in singing O Canada and God Save The Queen.
For her, it will also be a personal moment, as three members of her family, who she didn’t have a chance to meet, fought and lost their lives in the World Wars.
“I have to not think about the fact that it’s a very personal thing (when I sing), because I don’t want to get choked up. But I still do inside,” said Lee to the Richmond News.
“They all did so much for me, for my country. If there is anything I can do, I’d like to do my small part.”
Lee’s three uncles fought in the Second World War, with only one coming home. Uncle Bruce and William Walker died in aircraft crashes and were buried in England.
Lee is also a direct descendant of Lieutenant Hubert Percival Collins, who fought and lost his life in the First World War for Canada.
“I’m so very proud of my family, to belong to a family who was very patriotic, as am I - proud to be a Canadian.” said Lee.
Lee, who was the lead singer for the parade at Richmond’s Remembrance Day ceremony last year, said it is a bit “nerve racking” to sing in front of the crowd.
“Once you start, you can just go away from everything, and you just singing the song you love to sing,” said Lee.
“For all those boys that are no longer...it was their country too, and they answered that big call, not knowing what their fate would be – some of them probably had a very good idea.”
- With files with Matthew McBride
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