Premier Andrew Furey and other provincial and federal government representatives have arrived in France to begin the repatriation of the remains of an unknown Newfoundland soldier.
The remains will be brought home on Saturday. Once back in the province, a hearse will take the casket past several historic landmarks.
Then the remains will lie in state from June 28th to the 30th, before being interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial on Memorial Day.
Premier Furey expects the next few days, and month as a whole, to be very emotional.
He thinks back to the mothers and fathers in 1916 who were left wondering if their loved ones were injured or dead. He says now they have the chance to bring someone home who didn’t survive.
The trip and events are a federal initiative funded and arranged by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Ottawa is being represented on the trip by MP Seamus O’Regan. Randeep Sarai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, will also be in attendance, along with Labrador MP Yvonne Jones.