Youth pays its respects to all who fought for Canada’s freedoms
On a chilly Saturday night, Jordynn Bateman stood guard at the cenotaph at the bottom of Clifton Hill.
Members of the 2835 56th Field Artillery Regiment Cadet Corps hold the overnight vigil each year, standing as silent guards at the monument.
The young cadets left their post early Sunday and made their way to Gale Centre for Niagara Falls’ Remembrance Day service.
There, 16-year-old Jordynn read the poem “In Flanders Fields” to a crowd of hundreds who had gathered at the arena.
“It’s important for people to attend the service because it’s not only the veterans who were affected by war, it was the families as well, the kids who might have lost their mother or father,” she said.
“It’s important that we always remember what they all suffered.”
Jacob Ridgway, a member of the Air Cadet League of Canada 126 Flying Lancers, offered a similar sentiment.
“A lot of people don’t realize the effort veterans have put in just for us to be able to have this opportunity,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s important for everyone to come out and spend some time reflecting on their sacrifices.”
The service, organized by the Niagara Falls Central Veterans Committee, began with the singing of “O Canada” followed by two minutes of silence.
A number of veterans and organizations laid wreathes before a series of wall murals that pay tribute to Canada’s war dead and those who have served their country. The murals depict scenes from the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean conflict and Afghanistan.
Among groups who laid a wreath was the 126 Flying Lancers.
“We wear the uniform because
we’re representing not only our squadron but the Air Force as well,” said Morgan Ellwood, 18.
In his address, Rev. Canon Jim Powell said it is every Canadian’s responsibility to keep alive the memories of those who made the supreme sacrifice.
“It’s up to us to take on the duty of passing on the memory of those who have gone before us … remembering those who were prepared to give their lives for peace and justice,” he said.
Diane Condon, deputy district commander for District B of the Ontario Provincial Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, and Branch 479 member, was pleased to see the service was well attended.
“We should all be grateful that we are able come out, enjoy the camaraderie, and to enjoy freedom,” she said.
Condon laid a wreath in honour of Major Rev. Duncan Lyon, a veterans’ advocate who presided over the city’s Remembrance Day service for many years. He died in July at age 79.
Following the ceremony, a dedication presentation of wreaths took place at the cenotaph.
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, hundreds of people turned up at the at the cenotaph in the Old Town.
It was there that girl guides from 1st Niagara-on-the-Lake Sparks, 2nd Niagara-on-the-Lake Brownies and 1st Niagara-onthe-Lake Guides held up framed photographs of past presidents from the Royal Canadian Legion General Nelles Branch 124. All but one of the men in the photographs had served during the First World War.
“This is our second year participating,” said Megan Gilchrist, contact guider for the pathfinders. “It’s part of our programming to participate in service projects and we’ve had a close relationship with the legion for the past few years so we felt this was a good fit.”
Having youth involved in ceremonies is something Branch 124 past president Stan Harrington views as important. At both of the local legion’s services Sunday — an afternoon service was held in Queenston — youths read “In Flanders Fields,” Klarysa Harrington in the morning and Jackie Dickieson in the afternoon.
“It’s important for them to be here. It’s about remembrance. We all have to remember,” Harrington said.
“All of the (Second World War) vets are in their late 90s now … it’s going to be difficult for kids to remember, so we have to tell them and we have to help them to remember,” he said.