Millions of Canadians coast to coast gathered on Remembrance Day to pay tribute to the men and women past and present who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, hundreds of locals also paid their respects at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Clyde and Westlock.
At the service hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion at the Westlock Community Hall the guest speaker was retired Brig. Gen. Bill Buckham.
Buckham’s military career spans more than 35 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force in all aspects of operations, training, planning and personnel.
While introducing Buckham, who lives in St. Albert, chaplain Marjorie Steele said he had served as Air Force Chief of Staff, Commander of Canadian Armed Forces Edmonton, and Commander of 412 Transport Squadron from Ottawa. He was also honourary colonel of the 417 Combat Support Squadron from Cold Lake.
Buckham said that as a boy he was influenced to join the Royal Canadian Air Force because he wanted to fly, to see the world and to do good things in an exciting organization.
“In my 36-year career in the Air Force during the so-called ‘Cold War’, I lost more than 125 friends and acquaintances in training and operations at home and abroad in service to Canada. And I am not unique,” he said.
“Most of us who have served have witnessed a wide variety of conflict, death and man’s inhumanity to man over the years.”
Buckham noted that many Canadians have felt the loss of a family member who gave their lives to make the world a better place.
“We who are living and we who benefit must remember their contributions. It is a debt and a courtesy we owe that can never be totally repaid,” he said.
“No one volunteers to die, or to be maimed for life. Remembrance Day is therefore neither a holiday, nor a celebration, but an opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the enormity of the sacrifice Canadian military men and women have made for us when asked to do so by their country.”
Buckham said that if Canadians define remembrance solely within the context of Nov. 11, “we do not do justice to the sacrifices made by our military on our behalf over 100 years.”
He noted that in 1914, when Canada had just eight million residents, over 600,000 men and women enlisted to fight in the First World War. Almost 57,000 were killed and another 100,000 were wounded.
Since then, Canadians have served in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Gulf War, Bosnia, Afghanistan and many other peacekeeping operations and each time service men and women have paid a price.
“Natural disasters at home and abroad do not happen on a schedule. Neither do political conflicts or terrorism. All create conflicts that destroy stability and affect us indirectly or directly. And they will continue,” he said.
“As a nation, we cannot rely on others for our own peace of mind and national security. Whenever Canada commits its service men and service women, they are likely to be placed in harm’s way on our behalf. That is a given. And our military members understand and accept that risk when they volunteer.”
Buckham said Canadians have the right and expectation to be served by a professional, responsive, flexible and capable armed forces able to meet the nation’s stated security objectives.
“In return, however, our military men and women deserve … to receive consistently good training, appropriate equipment and sound leadership so that they can do the tasks assigned them in a timely fashion.”
Buckham noted that Canadians must also honour the fallen by respecting and holding dear those veterans who live with a decreased quality of life due to injury in combat, and to support their families.
“For us to do less would be an insult to the fallen and a cynical breach of Canada’s responsibility for having placed them in harm’s way,” he added.
Buckham added that it is easy to forget that the conflicts which we committed our military to were for just reasons, and that those who donned the uniforms of this nation did not do so for glory or money.
“And it’s easy to forget that if we do not remember the lessons of the past, our serving men and women will pay the price in the future,” Buckham said.
He urged the crowd to think of what the flag stands for when they see it at half-mast, to thank a veteran for their service and to remember what we demand of the military when they see a member of the Armed Forces.
“If we do, then we as Canadians can respectfully wear our poppies to honour our comrades who have paid the ultimate price that we may live. We shall remember them.”
The ceremony included the reading of several hymns, as well as a poem by Corinne Gilmar. Following the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph, sandwiches and hot dogs were served by the T-Birds football team.
The Clyde Community Hall was packed for the community’s Remembrance Day ceremony organized by the Clyde & District Agricultural Society.
Members of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, RCMP and Westlock Army Cadets made up the Colour Party and laid wreaths.
An indoor portion included the marching of the Colours, the singing of O Canada and a short sermon by pastor Chris Lantz.
Afterwards, the ceremony moved outside to the cenotaph for the laying of the wreaths and culminated with members of the public pinning their poppies on the wreaths, followed by a potluck lunch at the hall.
Master of ceremonies Isaac Brower-Berkhoven said he was pleased with crowd.
“We had a good turnout, there were certainly over 120 people here,” he said, adding he was glad to see so many stay for the lunch.
“They’re happy to be here, talking with family and friends, and to me, more than anything else, it’s what Remembrance Day should be.
“It’s a time to reflect on those who gave their lives for us to have freedom … it’s freedom being celebrated.”
Second World War veteran James Berwick was among those in attendance and was appreciative of the turnout, especially of the large number of youth.
“I thought that was very nice,” he said.
“They still remember for what they did.”
For Berwick, who joined the war at the age of 17 as part of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and was involved in the Liberation of the Netherlands in 1945, Remembrance Day is about reflection.
“We remember the boys that lost their lives there, more than anything else,” he said.
Fourteen-year-old Joshua Skuban said he attended to pay his respects to those who have served.
“I thought it would be really nice to remember all the men and women who gave their lives for us,” Skuban said. “I thought it was very touching.”
