The day honouring fallen and surviving servicemen and women got an early start this year.
The Westlock Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies Auxiliary Branch #97 spent Nov. 2 performing the Remembrance Day service at Pembina Lodge, Smithfield Lodge, and the Westlock Continuing Care Centre.
Services were led by chaplain Marjorie Steele, a veteran from the Saskatchewan Dragoons Service Corps, who recounted the horrors of trench warfare and the violence that was witnessed in the Second World War, the Korean and present-day wars.
“I’m an internal optimistic wanting to think that everyone who fought in the campaign and made the ultimate sacrifice would be remembered, lest we forget to remember,” she said.
“As you look and admire our veterans of older conflicts today, look deeper and see the hurt and pain they still carry today for the loss of comrades and conflict far away from their homes and families.
“And look again at our younger veterans, those from Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. They may not show it on their faces or by their demeanor, but they are broken, broken souls in spirit, psychologically, spiritually and physically broken.”
Two men in the room personally remembered the fight from over 70 years ago, Second World War veterans Tom McConaghy, 92, and 91-year-old Sandy Latimer.
“It’s quite a privilege,” McConaghy said after attending the service.
In the afternoon, Steele, Ladies Auxiliary member Regina Schmolinski, and 18 Grade 11 students from St. Mary School visited the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery to lay down poppies at 36 graves, as an act of gratitude and appreciation for their sacrifices. Students also laid down a wreath at the gravesite of Maynard Allers.
“His wife had requested a wreath and was not able to do it herself,” Steele said. “I told her I would get the kids to do it and she was absolutely over the moon.”
During her sermon, she said it could be hard to know what to say to veterans and soldiers, whether young or old, but the simplest thing is to say “Thank you.”
About 40 students from R.F. Staples and St. Mary School had their chance to give their thanks at the No Stone Left Alone ceremony at the Westlock Cemetery Nov. 7.
With the Colour Party present, Steele spoke a few words before members of the military walked with the students to lay 86 poppies.
Attendees then headed to the Legion Hall for a lunch of soup and sandwiches.
Donations to the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund will help fund veterans and their families and also indirectly through the purchase of medical equipment and donations to the local fire departments.
Because the school is closed this week, Eleanor Hall School held its ceremony Nov. 4 to a packed gym.
Three members of the Westlock Legion were on hand to discuss the importance of peace and how students could contribute to it.
“You’re the ones we need to keep the peace,” said Jim Klassen during a speech to the students. “We can all live peacefully.”
Eleanor Hall school principal Nadine Marchand noted that the school always picked the closest day to Nov. 11 that it could. She emphasized the importance of keeping the memory of those who serve alive.
“Our armed forces are not just used when we’re in war-time, it’s also peace time,” said Marchand.
“We certainly have people in our own communities who have lost their lives. It’s important for the kids to remember why we have Remembrance Day, it’s not just a day off but it’s a very important day to remember and be grateful. I think that the call to peace of all the children and the people in our communities to keep remembering how important it is to act peacefully in our daily lives.”
She added that she was overjoyed with how the ceremony went.
“I think everyone did a great job, it was nice to have some people who were able to speak with us,” said Marchand. “I think the children gained a lot from it.”
