Fallen soldiers honoured on Decoration Day
When it comes to Remembrance Day in Canada Canada, peo people all over the country pause to thank veterans who fought for the rights and freedom that we have today, be it through whatever major conflict they were a part of. What is sometimes forgotten is that soldiers, peacekeepers and police serve every day even when there isn’t a battlefield in play or a war to be fought. And sometimes they give their lives in their call of duty.
It’s for those heroes that Decoration Day is held every first Sunday in June – with the 2018 version marking the 74th year of honour on June 2 with wreaths laid at cemeteries throughout the city and a special ceremony at the Crescent Park Cenotaph that featured pilots from 15 Wing alongside Navy League, Sea and Army Cadets from chapters throughout the area.
“We have two big days a year, D-Day and then Remembrance Day on November 11th,” said Moose Jaw Legion vice president Rene Lachance as the ceremony in Crescent Park wrapped up on a beautiful spring day. “The big difference between the two is this is for everything that happened (outside) of the World Wars, they were part of it also and basically we honour everybody.”
“As I retired myself after 30 years in the Navy, I was part of seven tours and I saw things... we lost people on my watch. It’s always nice to remember the fallen and whose come in after. It’s respect and loving your comrades.” The event comes to a conclusion at the Cenotaph each year, with the stone edifice a special reminder of all those who have given their lives for freedom.
“It represents the soldiers, it represents the veterans, the fallen RCMP, first responders, whoever gave their lives away,” Lachance said. “That’s what the monument is about. So that’s why we put it in a park in a place like this, so people can stop and have a chance to think about the vets.”
With the large contingent of cadets and young people taking in the event, Lachance was happy to see the next generation learning about what happened before them.
“A lot of people start with
Sea Cadets or Navy League or Cubs even,” he said.
“They grow up to know about things that we know as veterans. They learn these things and some of them even make a career out of it and everything... I think it’s great for kids to have a chance to do this.”
The 75th anniversary of
Decoration Day will take place the first Sunday of
June in 2019.