Westlock area residents can choose to pay their respects to the fallen during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Westlock, Clyde, Jarvie and Flatbush.
This year is a special milestone for Remembrance Day, since it is also the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“This year is very important for Canadians,” said Clyde master of ceremonies Isaac Brower-Berkhoven.
“The sacrifice we made and how we performed was what really defined us as Canadians.”
The Royal Canadian Legion in Westlock will host its usual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Westlock and District Community Hall, starting at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will include speeches and the laying of wreaths by dignitaries.
“After the usual ceremony, there will be refreshments,” said Westlock Legion president Dave Hall.
“Then at the Legion later on, we will have a dinner at 5 p.m.”
A temporary cenotaph will be set up at the hall, but wreaths will be laid at the town cenotaph next to the Heritage Building following the ceremony at the community hall.
Hall suggested people arrive early.
“It fills up pretty quickly,” he said.
Pointing out that the vast majority of soldiers who served in Canada’s wars were volunteers, Hall said it was vital for people to honour the troops.
“It’s important to remember the veterans and the still-serving troops,” he said.
“People sacrificed quite a bit to give us the life we have now. Whether they gave the ultimate sacrifice or just went over and served in the war.”
Clyde’s memorial will be held at the Clyde Community Hall, starting at 10:15 a.m.
It will include a wreath-laying at the cenotaph across the street.
“It’s the same plan as we’ve had for the last eight years,” said Brower-Berkhoven. “We will announce all the names of people who sacrificed their lives in the Second World War who are on the cenotaph.”
R.F. Staples student Josh Brown will play the bugle for the ceremony.
There will also be a potluck lunch following the ceremony.
Brower-Berkhoven said it was vital for the community to show its respect for the fallen.
“These are men and women who gave their lives for us so that we may live in peace, security and harmony of mankind,” he said.
Jarvie will be serving as the central hub for the northern part of Westlock County, drawing people from Dapp, Pibroch and Fawcett.
Organizer Jim Turnbull estimated that at up to 20 wreaths would be laid at the cenotaph within the hamlet, starting at 10:45 a.m.
“We’re going to assemble at the cenotaph and have a very solemn service,” he said.
Following the ceremony, a lunch will be hosted at Jarvie Community Hall alongside a display of memorabilia, including pictures, medals and letters written home from Les Foster, a soldier who died in the Second World War.
“When the telegram came to his family saying that he had lost his life, attached to it was his paycheque,” said Turnbull. “His paycheque for losing his life was $373. It signifies what the government of the day valued a man’s life.”
Turnbull noted that it might be a chilly morning but people had no excuse not to come out and pay their respects.
“It’s important that we never forget and I don’t care what the weather is like,” he said. “When the boys were over there fighting on our behalf, it didn’t matter what the weather was the fight went on just the same.”
A ceremony is also being planned in Flatbush, starting at 11 a.m.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, Westlock Legion is holding its annual No Stone Left Alone ceremony at the Westlock Town Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. During the ceremony, students will be laying wreaths and poppies on veterans’ graves.
The No Stone Left Alone campaign is a national movement that began in 2011 and was initiated by Maureen Bianchini-Purvis in recognition of fallen soldiers at home and abroad.
For two years, students in Edmonton laid poppies and flags on the graves of the city’s war dead. Then, the tradition expanded to Westlock, as well as the rest of the country.
“It’s five years for us here in this area,” said Westlock Legion chaplain Marjorie Steele.
“We’ve placed over 450 flags. It’s gone on all across Canada now. Children lay poppies because it’s too cumbersome for them to lay flags.”
Various schools around the Westlock area will also host their own Remembrance Day ceremonies on Nov. 9.
Westlock Elementary School leads off at 9:30 a.m. St. Mary School will host its ceremony at 10:45 a.m. and R.F. Staples and Busby will hold ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.
Pembina North Community School will host its ceremony at 10:45 a.m., followed by Eleanor Hall at 1 p.m.
