The weather mirrored the sombre occasion at Veterans Park of the Branch 613 Royal Canadian Legion last Friday morning, as the annual Remembrance Day service was held under a continual rain. The scheduled 11 AM flyover of a military aircraft from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope had to be cancelled due to the inclement weather.
Niagara College’s Radio, Television, and Film Broadcasting program covered the event.
Fonthill resident Bernie Law spoke on behalf of MP Dean Allison. The gathering also heard from MPP Sam Oosterhoff, Regional Councillor Diana Huson, and Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin.
Remarks by Mayor Junkin
Good morning everyone, and thank you for taking the time to be part of today’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
Today we stand together to honour, reflect and remember the dedication and sacrifices made by Canadian veterans. As mayor, I am often asked to speak at various functions and events, but to be able to be here again this year, in remembrance of all those who have served, is truly an honour.
With each passing year, we move further away from the firsthand memories of past wars. It is up to us to continue to share these memories to ensure that we, as a country, remember. We each have an important role now, to keep the sacrifices, and lessons learned, alive and strong in the hearts and minds of generations to come. For those here today, our acts of remembrance, from the poppy on our lapels, to the time spent ensuring Canadians know of the sacrifices made, are ways we can continue to honour all those who have served and keep their memories alive.
One of the acts of remembrance is visible in the faces of the veterans and service members displayed on the banners that can be seen through the community. The banners on display I know are just a fraction of those from this area who have made sacrifices for the freedoms we have today. This year, over 50 service members are part of the banner display. These men and women who stood up and raised their hands when our country needed them. The faces displayed on the banners are a humbling reminder of our neighbours who have made sacrifices and answered the call.
We are so fortunate that throughout history so many have answered the call. The memory of their service lives on today with generations of loved ones who carry on their stories, and with us, as a community, who are committed to taking the time to remember. We will remember. Every person who has stepped forward, every life lost in the field of battle and in the service to this country. We will remember them, as each one has been part of building the foundation of the freedom that we have today. Our freedom is not by chance, it is because of the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who committed to our country’s ideals and beliefs, the highest being a free nation.
Today, I join along with so many others to express my sincerest thanks to all of those who have served and those that continue to serve. Thank you. I know that those two words, Thank You, will never be enough, but I humbly ask that you accept our gratitude along with the continued commitment to remember the sacrifices that built the freedom we have today.
May you remain in the hearts of Canadians today, tomorrow and always. We will remember.
Thank you.
