WESTLOCK/CLYDE/JARVIE - Hundreds of Westlock-area residents gathered in town, the Village of Clyde and Hamlet of Jarvie Nov. 11 to pay their respects to the men and women who have served in Canada’s armed forces.
With the temperature hovering just above freezing, outdoor Remembrance Day ceremonies in all three communities Thursday morning were well attended with the Westlock event drawing 150-plus residents of all ages to the Cenotaph at the corner of 100th Avenue and 100th Street. Speaking to the crowd, which included many former and current servicemen and servicewomen, plus a quartet of RCMP officers in Red Serge, Westlock Legion president Paul Taverner thanked them for attendance and said Canadians forever owe a debt to all the men and women who have served.
“I have not sacrificed anything for my freedom, it was given to me by those who came before me who sacrificed so much. Now it is my responsibility to never forget the service and the sacrifices of the more than one-and-a-half million Canadian soldiers, sailors, air crews and merchant seamen. They died so I could have the freedom to stand here and give this speech,” said Taverner, before trumpeter Alex Shabert played Last Post. “I am forever in their debt and will remember their sacrifices.”
Following two minutes of silence, branch chaplain Marjorie Steele read the poem Act of Remembrance, then a Treaty 6 land acknowledgement and finally a prayer of remembrance, while Ladies Auxiliary president Jeanne Roska read the 23rd Psalm. Rev. Peter Yeung then led the crowd reciting the Lord’s Prayer, while Taverner followed with In Flanders Fields.
“It’s so nice to see so many of you out here today, it’s very different than it was last year when it was very cold,” said Steele, who later encouraged the crowd to plant a remembrance garden with poppies in it. “We who have never known war must remember to say thank you to those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Our society is the fruit of their sacrifices. We enjoy freedom today because of the generation who came before and laid the foundation with their very lives.”
Following the laying of more than a dozen wreaths at the base of the Cenotaph and some more words from Steele, Yeung finally led the crowd through the singing of God Save The Queen to wrap the ceremony.
Over in Clyde
As temperatures danced around zero, nearly 40 villagers gathered at the Cenotaph as new mayor Charis Logan began the ceremony around 10:50 a.m.
“It is an honour to remember together those who have fought and are fighting for our freedom,” Logan began. “Remembrance Day is an important day and it is an honour to remember together with you all, to be thankful for what cost greatly. It is not something to be taken lightly, but rather something to remember,” she said.
Logan then passed the spotlight to Isaac Brower-Berkhoven, who has officiated Remembrance Day ceremonies in the village for the past few years.
Brower-Berkhoven took time to name each Clyde resident who served in the First and Second World Wars before calling for two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.
Six wreaths were laid following the two minutes of silence and the ceremony was concluded with a reading of For the Fallen by Brower-Berkhoven.
Up in Jarvie
At least 85 people attended the Jarvie service led by Lieutenant-Commander (retired) John Tyrrell.
“We are gathered together for our annual service of remembrance, to give thanks to almighty God for his goodness to us as a nation and Commonwealth, to remember before God those who died in the service of their country, especially those whose loyalty and courage are cherished in our personal memories, and to dedicate ourselves in the cause of peace,” he said.
Following the Last Post and the two minutes of silence, followed by Reveille (both played by trumpeter Chris Rottier), Tyrrell read the Act of Remembrance.
Following the placing of wreaths (which were already in place because of COVID-19 restrictions) persons representing various groups stepped forward briefly.
Lesley Foster sang the hymn Abide With Me and Clifford Bell read a poem written by his grandfather, Herb Bell, a First and Second World War veteran. Foster closed the event leading in the singing of O Canada, followed by a benediction from Tyrrell.
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