Wondering about Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier? Here's what's happening leading up to Memorial Day - Action News
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Wondering about Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier? Here's what's happening leading up to Memorial Day

The remains of Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier will be placed inside a tomb his final resting place on home soil after more than 100 years abroad in downtown St. John's at the newly refurbished National War Memorial, which is marking its centennial year.

Public will have plenty of opportunity to pay respects to soldier who died in the First World War

an aerial view of the national war memorial in St. John's.
The National War Memorial in downtown St. John's is celebrating 100 years this coming Memorial Day. An Unknown Solider who died fighting for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War will be entombed after being repatriated from northern France in late May. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

The week leading up to Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador will be a busy one.

The remains of Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier will be placed inside a tomb his final resting place on home soil after more than 100 years abroad in downtown St. John's at the newly refurbished National War Memorial, which ismarking its centennial year.

The soldier was repatriated last month from northern France in a ceremony at Beaumont-Hamel.

He landed back in Newfoundland on a warm Saturday evening and was taken on a driving tour of the city that passed by significant historical sites, including the war memorial itself, unveiled July 1, 1924, eight years after the deadly Battle of the Somme, which decimated nearly an entiregeneration of men fighting for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

But the public will have its chance to pay its respects to the fallen soldier ahead of July 1.

A lying-in-statewill take place at Confederation Building for three days,June 28-30, before the man is laid to rest once more this time permanently at the war memorial.

Public visitation hours will be:

  • 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 28
  • 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 29
  • 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on June 30

The public can access the main entrance of Confederation Building throughthe east block lobby.

TheJuly 1 ceremony atthe war memorial begins at 9:30 a.m. Alternateviewing options are also being held at The Rooms and the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland.

CBC News will be carrying the event live.

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