Redeemer students and faculty stood together with the Hamilton and Ancaster communities to remember those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom. At the Ancaster cenotaph, student Nico Thiessen and Professor Emeritus of History Dr. Harry Van Dyke laid a wreath on behalf of the Redeemer community. Thiessen describes the large crowd at the cenotaph for the Ancaster Remembrance Day service as being filled with people, from experienced veterans to newborn babies. “What was really wonderful about the event was that I was able to gather with so many people in remembrance of the sacrifices made by so many,” he reflected. “For Redeemer to take part in the ceremony means that we as an institution actively seek to be a part of our community, our city, our world. Our institution is an important part of this community, and I am truly grateful I was able to represent it during the ceremony,” Thiessen said. He was also honoured to stand with Dr. Van Dyke, whose family faced German occupation in the Netherlands during the Second World War. “Redeemer was founded and is supported by post-war immigrants,” recounted Dr. Van Dyke. “Redeemer is profoundly grateful to the fallen. Without their sacrifice we would not even be here.” Fifteen years ago, two members of the Student Senate – both history majors – took the initiative of laying a wreath at the Ancaster cenotaph on behalf of the students. The tradition has carried on every year since. Redeemer also played a role at the Remembrance Day services at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The Concert Choir performed there, in front of more than 2,000 patrons. Watch their performance on the CHCH website. Meanwhile on campus, Redeemer students, faculty and staffed gathered in the Commons to listen to the story of a veteran, chaplain Robb Powell’s uncle, to sing hymns of lament and hope and to observe a moment of silence.