It was meant to be a solemn occasion to honour fallen soldiers, but a small number of veterans chose Friday's Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa to launch their protest against Canada's new Governor General.

As Michaelle Jean laid a memorial wreath on the War Memorial, the words "Turn, turn," were called out, and about 25 people, led by veterans, turned their backs on the Governor General.

It was meant as a statement against the newly appointed Jean, who the protesters believe has separatist sympathies.

"We just don't believe the governor general they've chosen is suitable," Frank Laverty, the 80-year-old veteran leading the protest told CTV. He said her appointment was an insult to veterans.

"We know she has toasted independence by revolution, independence by revolution for Quebec," Laverty said.

As governor general, Jean has declared her loyalty to Canada and denied claims she is sympathetic to the separatist cause. Her sister, however, is a prominent separatist in Quebec.

Some felt the veterans' protest was inappropriate and poorly timed, staged as it was during a solemn occasion meant to honour soldiers who had sacrificed their lives.

"I think it's disgraceful," said one veteran.

"We're here to remember guys who died, not to protest the living," said another.

Canada's top soldier, Gen. Rick Hillier, dismissed the protesters as a tiny minority of those in attendance. An estimated 25,000 people gathered around the war memorial Friday morning.

"We're here to celebrate the positive part of life, and the great society, the best society in the world that we have, and 25,000 people were fully part of it," he told CTV.

The Governor General played down the protest and focused on the purpose of the event. In fact, she said she didn't even notice the affront.

"Well I have to say I didn't even see that," Jean told CTV. "What is important is what happened right here. Remembrance is important."

Still, the freedom to protest and express ideas is a right soldiers fought for, and Laverty felt justified in the choice of venue, although he admitted it wasn't ideal.

"I said we would like a better day, but where else can you get a message across?" said Laverty.