The black and white photo shows two lines of soldiers stretching from the horizon, marching in single file down Eighth Street on Oct. 1, 1940.
Hundreds of them, all in identical uniforms, on their way to training after Canada declared war against Germany.
A few women walk beside their men, and in the foreground, a little boy breaks away from his mother to reach out for his father's hand.
The photo known as "Wait For Me, Daddy," taken by Province photographer Claud Detloff, became one of the most recognized images in the country during the Second World War.
It is the photos like this one, as well as the stories and writing, that preserve the memories and emotions associated with significant times in our history.
But if a picture is worth a thousand words, then it could be argued that a place is worth a thousand pictures.
For many people today, especially youth, being able to see and touch the remnants of the Second World War right here in New Westminster can have a great impact on their understanding of history, according to local historian Archie Miller.
"I think the stories are very important, that we remember the people, that we remember the events; but when you can tie them to stuff locally, I think that's important," he said.
Archie and Dale Miller run the New Westminster Historical Society and host regular walking tours in town.
At Queen's Park earlier this year, they mostly covered the history of the sporting events and buildings in the park, but they also spoke to the group about the military history there.
Soldiers trained in the park, and injured troops were stationed there during the war, Miller said. At the end of the war, the Royal Westminster Regiment marched to the park, from where they were released to visit their families.
"This was something that a number of them on the tour hadn't related to before, but being able to be there in the park, and kind of imagine, well, what was that activity around you, it had a great influence on a few of them," Miller said. "The stories of the places that you can really see, like an armoury, or where you can weave your stories around, like at Queen's Park, or (when) you're dealing specifically with individuals, they're all important, they all have a place."
Another spot with strong reminders of the Second World War and other military events in Canada's history is the Fraser Cemetery, where some local veterans have been laid to rest.
"When we do cemetery tours, some of the stories are very poignant," Miller said. "You'll find there's lots of graves there that will show you by the name on it and . it'll tell you whether that person was in the First or the Second World War, or something else."
Of course, on Nov. 11, the cenotaph at city hall is still the epicenter of Remembrance Day - a place where people gather for a moment of silence in a display of honour for those who have fought for their country.
And the nearby armoury is somewhere to see the tangible evidence of this town's military history.
"A place like the armoury really does stand out because it's right there and you can go and visit, and when you walk in you realize that people going right back to the Boer War have walked in that same room that you're in," said Miller. "It's still the home of the Royal Westminster Regiment - they have offices and all their material - but there's also a very good museum and archives."
There are also the less obvious places, such as Victory Heights, where the neighbourhood was originally established for returning soldiers, but which now only hints at the historical significance through the heritage caps on the street signs.
The reminders around town may be slowly disappearing over time, such as the veterans' apartments that used to be at McBride Street and Sixth Avenue, but the interest in the wars of the last century continues, Miller said.
"First World War veterans are gone now and (the number) of Second World War veterans is diminishing, but you have people who have strong connections to remembering what went on, and you have current things right now, like Afghanistan," he said.
"I think a lot of times we say that young people aren't interested, but if you look at the Remembrance Day services, there are a lot of people who are there and some of them will have connections and some of them won't. I think over time it does drop down but for everyone who drops off, we're probably picking up one who is interested."
