WESTLOCK - Hundreds of Westlock-area residents joined with Canadians coast-to-coast Friday, Nov. 11, to pay their respects to the country’s veterans, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to protect freedom and peace around the globe.
Following two years of modestly-attended outdoor events at the Town of Westlock Cenotaph due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, the Westlock Legion returned indoors for an hour-long service at Memorial Hall, while traditional outdoor Remembrance Day events were also held in the Village of Clyde and Hamlet of Jarvie. Westlock Legion 1st vice-president Dave Hall, who MC'd the town ceremony, thanked the massive crowd of 400-plus at the onset — the audience applauded a handful of young and old veterans in attendance, who had been asked by Hall to stand and be recognized.
“It’s only been 104 years since the end of World War I and Canada in that time has sent many people overseas and they’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. I would like to thank everyone for being here and showing their support for the veterans,” said Hall.
The Westlock service, which opened with O Canada and closed with God Save The King, included other Remembrance Day standards like the recitation of the 23rd Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, the hymn I Vow to Thee My Country and In Flanders Fields, plus the laying of the wreaths from a variety of community members who were escorted by Westlock Army Cadets and the depositing of the poppies on the wreaths by the Colour Guard.
Westlock Church of the Nazarene pastor Rick Burk, the event’s featured speaker, said Remembrance Day allows people to reflect and honour, “those who took the high ground for us.”
“Many who marched onto the high ground returned to build beauty and peace in the valley, but some did not,” said Burk. “On this day we remember the sacrifice of those who walked into the valley and then beyond, while others returned and contributed to their communities. We’re here to remember and we’re here to be thankful not only to those who came back, but to those who did not.”
Meanwhile, more than 100 rural residents braved chilly -18 C conditions for the outdoor Clyde and Jarvie services. In Jarvie, Lieutenant-Commander (Rtd) The Very Rev John Tyrrell CD, led the brief service at the community’s cenotaph and thanked all who helped pull off the event, as well as the “many old timers as well as young folk” who attended.
In Clyde, Navy veteran Isaac Brower-Berkhoeven led the short, outdoor service that included a few words by mayor Charis Logan Aguirre. Following the laying of wreaths, playing of Last Post and Reveille, there was a roll call for Clyde veterans, including Second World War veteran Sgt. James Ronald Berwick of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, who grew up in Clyde and later lived in Westlock, before passing away in August 2017.
Several of Berwick’s family members, including his son Kevin, who also grew up in Clyde and now lives in St. Albert, and his grandson Chris, laid a wreath on behalf of the family.
“I remember coming out here with our dad when I was a kid,” said Kevin. “He would always come here every year and it was really important for him to come here because this is where he was originally from. He felt it was important to be here to represent soldiers that he fought with and some of the soldiers that didn’t make it back home.”
In the week leading up to Remembrance Day, all area schools held events, while St. Mary School and Pembina North Community School students participated in the No Stone Left Alone initiative, which sees Canadian flags placed on the graves of veterans.
