Premier Andrew Furey is reflecting on the repatriation of the unknown soldier last year as one of the most emotional events of his political career.
Last May, a delegation from this province travelled to France to bring the remains of a Newfoundland Regiment soldier back home.
People lined the streets of St. John’s as a casket carrying the soldier’s remains passed historic landmarks that the young man would have known more than 100 years earlier.
Thousands turned out on Memorial Day to watch as the casket was lowered into a tomb established at the refurbished National War Memorial in downtown St. John’s.
(Photo via Premier of NL on X)
Furey says the experience changed him as a premier, father, and person since, as the official head of state, he served as the soldier’s next-of-kin.
The premier was emotional in discussing what it meant for him to have his family there to share the experience.
“This son deserved to have a family, this young boy of Newfoundland and Labrador deserved to have a family standing next to him when he came home, and that was … yeah it was overwhelming and it was emotional. I’m emotional now just talking about it.”
