'I'm honoured': Second World War veteran, 99, the reviewing officer for Saint John ceremony
Thousands poured into TD Station in Saint John, N.B. for their annual Remembrance Day ceremony, which was done under the watchful eye of 99-year old Second World War Veteran Victor Burrill who served as the reviewing officer.
It was a fitting role for the tail gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 100th anniversary year.
“I’m honoured,” says the Second World War veteran. “I have never had my picture taken so many times as today.”
Burrill, who laid a wreath in honour of the fallen during the near-hour-long ceremony, served as a tail gunner during the Second World War. It was widely regarded as one of the most dangerous positions at the time.
His smaller stature made him the perfect man to sit in the back of the Lancaster Bomber aircraft. The average life expectancy for tail gunners at the time was five mission. Burrill exceeded the amount greatly, completing 33 missions over the course of war.
“I was scared every time I went up, and anybody that says they weren’t wasn’t telling the truth,” says Burrill. “When you're up there and people are shooting at you, it’s not a comfortable feeling.”
Burrill was joined by countless family members for the honour, including some of his great-great-grandchildren.
The 99-year old received multiple standing ovations throughout the ceremony. For retired Air Force member Reverend Clayton Misner, the presence of a Second World War veteran cannot be understated.
“It was great,” Misner says. “He goes back a long way, and it's good to have our veterans take part in ceremonies like this. But also to help us remember that when he went to war he was no older than some of the 19, 20, 21-year-olds and today he is in his late 90’s.”
It was also a great honour for the next generation of veterans.
Private Nissrine Maatouk says it is very meaningful to have veterans of all generations come together for the important day.
“It's an honor,” says Maatouk. “It's pretty amazing because you don't really see (Second World War Veteran) that often, and we appreciate every moment we have. It makes me appreciate life a lot for him to be around here, and I would love to talk to him someday just so I can hear some cool stories about the Second World War. I hope he's back here next year.”
When looking for someone to fill the role of the reviewing officer for the ceremony, Saint John Remembrance Day Committee chairperson Bernard Cormier says there was no better veteran to fill the role in the Air Force’s 100th anniversary year.
As a former member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Cormier says getting Burrill to fill the role was amazing.
“It's just incredible because what they tell me is that tail gunners, not very many of them survive,” Cormier says. “They were sort of like target number one, and he survived them all.”
Cormier notes the TD Station ceremonies attendance has yet to return to its pre-pandemic levels, but he is looking forward to next year when Remembrance Day falls on a Tuesday.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike: Talks deadlocked as sides clash on wages
Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues.
Meta working on resolving Facebook, Instagram outage
Meta users are experiencing a widespread outage, including applications like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Messenger, according to third-party website Downdetector.com. Meta acknowledged the issue and is working on resolving the outage.
Bank of Canada drops key interest rate to 3.25%, Trump tariff threat 'new source of uncertainty'
Canada's central bank has cut its key rate for the fifth consecutive time – now sitting at 3.25 per cent – as the country's economy grows at a slower rate than projected.
George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89
George Joseph Kresge Jr., who was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89.
'Baseball-sized hail': Toronto man owes car rental company $18K after hailstorm
A Toronto man is on the hook for about $18,000 after a car he rented over the summer was pelted by baseball-sized hail.
Police locate labyrinth of tunnels connecting tents to generator in Hamilton encampment
Hamilton police say that they discovered a series of “man-made holes and tunnels” during a patrol of a downtown encampment earlier this week.
Poilievre's Conservatives still in majority territory: Nanos seat projections
The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data.
New Vancouver mom temporarily discharged from hospital to see Taylor Swift concert
A Vancouver woman didn’t let an emergency C-section keep her from Saturday’s Taylor Swift concert.
Manitoba nurse found not criminally responsible for killing parents has licence to practice suspended
A Manitoba nurse who was found not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking another nurse in a Winnipeg hospital has been suspended from practicing.