Royal Roads UniversityB次元官网网址檚 past and present come together yet again next week, as the school and a group of former military college cadets gather to remember those who fell defending the freedoms of this country and others.

On Remembrance Day, the university and the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Association will co-host one of three such ceremonies on the West Shore.

Given the history and traditions continued on the site, this Nov. 11 event in Colwood has an even more tangible connection to wartime.

Chris Pratt, a retired navy captain who was part of Royal RoadsB次元官网网址� first naval college intake in 1942, is one of nearly 50 former cadets who have annually attended the memorial ceremony since it began in 1995. HeB次元官网网址檒l lay a wreath as the honourary president of the Ex-Cadet Association.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to see that serving members of the Armed Forces gather at that ceremony in uniform,B次元官网网址� he says.

Pratt notes that the plaque in the Italian Garden beside Hatley Castle contains the names of 12 former cadets who died in wartime; all of their names will be read aloud at next weekB次元官网网址檚 ceremony.

B次元官网网址淪ince it became a civilian university, (Nov. 11 events have) been supported by the ex-cadet club,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭he ex-cadets thought they would pick up on Remembrance Day and carry on that tradition.B次元官网网址�

Wayne Strandlund, chancellor of Royal Roads University and a five-year member of its board of directors, says tradition is one of the most important elements tying the two eras of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 existence together.

B次元官网网址淭he culture of Royal Roads and the tradition of it B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 all very important to the underpinnings of the establishment we have today.

B次元官网网址淚 feel strongly that the success that Royal Roads is experiencing now as a public university is very much a part of being able to stand on the shoulders of 55 years of its military college existence,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淓ven the physical premises really dates back to the military tradition, and anyone who walks through that campus can hardly avoid seeing its military background.B次元官网网址�

Given that fact, he says, B次元官网网址淚f there werenB次元官网网址檛 a celebration on Remembrance Day IB次元官网网址檇 find myself very perplexed.B次元官网网址�

Pratt likes that Royal Roads continues to focus on leadership, something that was central to the schoolB次元官网网址檚 days as a military college. It reflects the importance of leadership in civilian and business life,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e kept that motivation alive.B次元官网网址�

The ceremony begins at 10:40 a.m. Parking is free at Royal Roads lots.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com