For the first time since the National War Memorial was unveiled in July of 1924, there was no Memorial Day Parade in St. John’s but that did not stop people from paying their respects.

Derek Winsor, whose grandfather was a member of the regiment and whose father was also a veteran, was one who visited the Memorial yesterday.

Winsor, who leads tours of the battlefields in France, says he would have been visiting the Beaumont Hamel site this week if it weren’t for the pandemic.

He says it’s important to pay tribute.

Winsor explains that people can always take a moment to reflect and think about the people who got us to where we are today.