WESTLOCK/CLYDE/JARVIE - Around 100 people in Westlock, Clyde and Jarvie braved the cold this morning to pay their respects to all who have served in the Armed Forces.
Outdoor Remembrance Day ceremonies started around 10:45 a.m., Nov. 11, in all three communities — Westlock saw more than 60 people attend the Westlock Legion hosted event at the community's cenotaph located at the corner of 100th Ave. and 100th Street, while around 15 took in the service in Clyde at the community’s cenotaph that had been organized by veteran Isaac Brower-Berkhoven.
Attendees in Westlock braved -13 C and were spread across the Heritage Building parking lot and on to the sidewalk, while a small honour guard, including a trio of RCMP officers, flanked the stone monument. Music was provided by bugler Alex Shabert and bagpiper Russ Nelson.
Speaking before the event, Westlock Legion president Paul Taverner and branch chaplain Marjorie Steele said they were compelled to be able to offer some kind of public tribute to veterans as many Remembrance Day events had either been outright cancelled, or severely scaled back. The 20-minute service was also broadcast via the Internet and can be viewed again at https://youtu.be/EhkaFImAVCw.
“I have not sacrificed anything for my freedom, it was given to me by those who came before me and sacrificed so much,” said Taverner at the service. “Now it’s the responsibility (of all of us) to never forget the service and the sacrifices of more than 1.5 million Canadian soldiers, sailors, air crew and merchant sea men. They died so I could have the freedom to stand here and give this speech, so I could get an education, get a job and live a free life.
“I am forever in their debt. I will remember the sacrifices of everyone.”
“Thank you again so much for coming. We realized that we had to do it (a Remembrance Day service) and couldn’t let it go by,” said Steele at the conclusion of the event.
See more in the upcoming issue of Town & Country This Week.
