Reflecting on Remembrance Day at Moro River

Story by Arina Kalinchenkova, Edited by David Barbu, Photos by Maria Young and Ilka KovaCs

On November 11, we had the honour of hosting the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Ortona.

As a student studying in Italy, it was both humbling and surreal to stand on foreign soil, remembering those who fought for freedom in the very place where so many fell.

The ceremony took place on a crisp autumn morning.

The white gravestones, lined up row by row, stretched across the peaceful landscape. Each stone bore a name, a date, and a symbol—a quiet but powerful reminder of the lives that ended here, so far from home.

Attendees included Canada’s Ambassador to Italy, Canadian Forces members, and Italian veterans and local leaders from Ortona and Lanciano.

We strolled around the graves before the ceremony, reading the names and ages of the people buried there—some of them as young as 18 or 19. I felt a fresh appreciation for the freedom and peace so many of us frequently take for granted. We all became aware of how much we owe the folks who came before us as we stood in that silent, solemn location.

I shall remember the moving experience of the Remembrance Day event in Ortona long after I leave Italy. The event reminded us of the bravery and tenacity that unite us over distance and time. Above all, it was a call to remember, to honour, and to act in a way that celebrates the sacrifices made by our fallen soldiers.