Since its opening, CCI has hosted the Remembrance Day Ceremony every November 11 along with the Canadian Armed Forces. The ceremony takes place at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery just outside of the town of Ortona. Here, are the final resting places of the 1375 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the battles that took place during the winter of 1943.
We were especially thankful to have the Minister-Counsellor Paul Gibbard from the Canadian Embassy in Italy to speak at the ceremony. Once again, with the embassy were Honourary Colonel John Newman of the 48th Highlanders, and Mrs. Sandra Seagram whose father was killed during the war.
Also in attendance were personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces, the mayor of Ortona, Generale di Brigata De Vito, the Italian Red Cross Military Corps, the Canadians and the Italian Campaign Tour, students and teachers from local schools, and many others wishing to pay respect for the fallen.
Remembering the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice was an incredibly moving experience. We left feeling tremendously grateful.
We had many of our students participate in the ceremony by reading poems. I find one poem particularly moving, which I share every year, written by my friend and colleague Brian Kellow.
In the Moro River Cemetery
By Brian Kellow (English teacher in CCI’s summer programme)
Now is the time for weeping
Among the young and the
Young dead,
The white crosses and the red flowers
And the grass
Over the underground stains
Of all the silent boys.
Now is the time for weeping
Among the young and the
Young dead
For the lives not lived
For the loves not loved
For the suddenly old faces and
The long passed lines
Around the eyes
Of the mothers, the wives
And the fathers.
Now is the time for weeping
In the place as silent
As the lost laughter
Of the boys
In the place as still
As the brooding mountain
That witnessed
The guns, the cries and the white crosses
And hears only the silence
Of the voiceless
Of the young,
Of the dead.
Now is the time for weeping.
Now is the time for weeping.
I am among the weeping
The young
And the dead.