Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier arrives at Confederation Building to lie in state

Dozens of people lined up outside Confederation Building on Friday afternoon, to pay their respects toNewfoundland's Unknown Soldier, marking the beginning of three days of remembrance before the soldier's remainswill be entombed at the National War Memorial in St. John's.

Under heavy rainfall and the eye of solemn onlookers, the Unknown Soldier arrived at Confederation BuildingFriday morning to lie in state.

The soldier was repatriated in a moving ceremony at Beaumont-Hamelon May 25and had been lying in an undisclosed location since.

On Friday morning, the Unknown Soldier who diedmore than a century ago in northern France at the height of the First World War was carried by pallbearers slowly up the stairs of Confederation Building, which is both the home of the Newfoundland and Labrador Legislature and the main seat of government.

Guests, along with members of the Royal Canadian Legion and Canadian Armed Forces, gathered outside Confederation Building as the hearse carrying the soldier was escorted to the front steps by police.

Bagpipes echoed from the building's steps as the bearer party slowly marched the casket inside atop their shoulders, while military and legion members stood at attention, unflinching as driving rain continued to fall.

• Watch live Memorial Day coverage on Monday from 9 a.m. NT from St. John's to mark the entombment of the Unknown Soldier. Watch on CBC, online and on CBC Gem

Inside, the main lobby of Confederation Building was quiet as the bearers gently placed the casket on its pedestal, in preparationforpublic viewing that starts Friday afternoon.

Premier Andrew Furey, who is designated at act as the Unknown Soldier's next of kin, stood by with his family, who were the first topay their respects.

Fureywiped tears from his eyes as he put his arm around his son, Mark, a teenager who is not much younger than some recruits who lied about their age to enlist to fight in Europe.

Public visitation began Friday afternoon, and will continue through to Sunday.

Norma Cumbypaid her respects because her son is in the military reserves. Noting that losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare, she said she views the Unknown Soldier aseverybody's son.

"It'svery symbolic that this Unknown Soldier was brought home here to Newfoundland," she said. "I think he represents all of us. He's everybody's son, and toall those families who never had closure, I think this will bring some closure to all of them."

Dave Maloney represented his grandfather,Thomas Carmichael, as he paid his respects to the Unknown Soldier on June 28.

Carmichael was a veteran of the First World War. Maloney said visiting the Unknown Soldier gave reality to the soldiers sacrifice in the Newfoundland Regiment.

"Some of these soldiers paid with their life and that's important to remember. We may not look at it now with our freedoms in everyday life, cell phones, TV, Internet and that kind of stuff, but it's very important. It started with that. I mean, they took the call, they went, and some of them never came back," Maloney said.

WATCH | People share their own motivations for silently saying thank you to the Unknown Soldier:

A moving and solemn arrival of Newfoundlands Unknown Soldier at Confederation Building

4 months ago

Duration 3:11

Under heavy rain, six pallbearers carried the casket of the Unknown Soldier up the stairs of Confederation Building and into the lobby Friday. He will lie in state for three days, during which the public can come and pay their respects before the remains are entombed at Newfoundlands National War Memorial on Monday.

Doug Sheatold CBC News he did so in memory of his brother, Dr. Robert Shea, who he said was instrumental in groups that brought the Unknown Soldier back to Newfoundland.

"He spent a lot of time and a lot of effort and he really loved Newfoundland and he loved the fact that this was going to happen here, and it was really touching to be here in his honour," he said.

The public can enter through the front of the building. Visitors will walk a loop around the inside of the lobby, passing by the casket, before exiting through the other side of the front doors.

An accessible route is available through the rear parking lot entrance, which includes ramps for wheelchairs.

The public can also visit Saturday between 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and againSunday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Monday which is Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, a sombre holiday that coincides with Canada Day the solider will make the journey to the refurbished National War Memorial in downtown St. John's.

Memorial Day marksthe remembrance of the first day of the Battle of the Somme, where in 1916 hundreds of men fighting for the Royal Newfoundland Regiment diedat Beaumont-Hamel.

WATCH |Someone's Son: Repatriating Newfoundland's Unknown Soldier:

These are the deeply personal reasons people have for lining up to pay respects to the Unknown Soldier

4 months ago

Duration 1:48

People patiently waited their turn to pause in front of the casket of the Unknown Soldier, draped in a Canadian flag, in the lobby of Confederation Building in St. Johns on Friday. They are thankful for his ultimate sacrifice and talked to the CBCs Heather Gillis about the other reasons for coming out during his lying in state.

He will be placed inside a purpose-built Tomb of the Unknown Soldier permanently as his final resting place.

A Memorial Day ceremony Monday will mark both the centennial year of the memorial and the entombment of the Unknown Soldier.

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