It's been more than nine years since Corporal Andrew Grenon was killed while on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
His mother Theresa Charbonneau says, even to this day, it never gets any easier.
Charbonneau was part of a ceremony Sunday to honour Canada's fallen soldiers.
She says the local community has been a huge support for her over the years.
"It's so good to see. Windsor is phenomenal for remembering. There's no better way to put it. After nine years, in most other places I think Andrew would have been forgotten, at least not come to the forefront, not like he does in Windsor."
The Afghanistan and Peacekeepers Monument at Reaume Park in Windsor (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Charbonneau says, while remembering can be hard, it's worth it.
"People ask, "Does it hurt?", and yes it does hurt, but it would hurt more not to do it. It's a hurt that comes with the pride and the gratitude. If we can get one little one to realize what a veteran is, who a veteran is and what a veteran has done for us, that's all I can ask."
Canadian veteran Jeff Gravel did two tours of duty in Afghanistan and says attending the ceremony was an emotional whirlwind.
"You can't have good without bad. I think if we were all to reflect back on it, there were for more good times than bad and even our bad moments, we can see that that also brought out some of the best in those around us whether it be for support or strength. There's that contrast to embrace."
Gravel had a simple message for those at the ceremony.
"Service doesn't have to come with a rifle in your hand. Serve your community. Go to the humane society and walk a dog. Go visit the elderly at a nursing home. Cut your parents grass. Do things without looking for results. We need to come back to community oriented values. We've lost touch with that."
(Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Charbonneau recalls a story she heard about a class of students that perfectly sums up what her son fought for.
"A teacher, first day of class who walks in, and the students walk in, there's no desks in the classroom. She asks them, "Who do you think is responsible for the desks in these classrooms?", and they name their parents, the principal, the school board, everyone under the sun. In walks 28 soldiers, each carrying a desk. It doesn't say it any more succinctly than that."
Hundreds attended the annual ceremony which took place at the Afghanistan and Peacekeepers Monument at Reaume Park along Windsor's waterfront.
Ceremony has wrapped up at Reaume Park war monument. Hundreds in attendance to honour Canada's fallen soldiers #cklw pic.twitter.com/PSpN1BHV5L
— Zander Broeckel (@zbroeckel800) September 10, 2017