The Minister of Indigenous and Labrador Affairs is paying tribute to the many Labradorians who answered the call—some of whom paid the supreme sacrifice—and served with the Newfoundland Regiment in WWI.

Today is Indigenous Veterans’ Day, and Friday marks Remembrance Day, two occasions set aside to reflect on the service and sacrifices made in the theatre of war.

Minister Lisa Dempster rose in the House of Assembly to pay tribute to the Labradorians who were “driven by a duty to serve.”

“They were Blakes, Barneys, Curls, Flowers, Fords, Greens, Pottles, Shiwaks and Browns. They came from places like Battle Harbour, Henley Harbour, L’Anse au Loup, Sandwich Bay, Nain, Spotted Islands, Hopedale, North West River, Grand Village, Red Bay and Rigolet.

Tragically, not all of these brave men returned home,” Dempster told the House of Assembly.