BRYSON
Donald Teuma-Castelletti
BRYSON Nov. 11, 2017
A Remembrance Day ceremony serving three municipalities was held at the Bryson cenotaph Saturday afternoon, bringing the communities together to pay their respects to past and present service members.
The Royal Canadian Legion Pontiac Branch 162 led the ceremony, as a procession, trumpet playing and wreath laying took place.
Over 30 wreaths were laid, representing or honouring many within the communities, and the service was conducted in a traditional fashion, featuring “O Canada,” a reading of “In Flanders Fields” by Patricia Godin and the “Last Post,” played on trumpet by Nora Thompson. Flags were flown high the entire ceremony, with Denis LaSalle holding the Canadian flag, David Hill hoisting the Legion flag and Perry Hill held the Quebec one.
Speaking with James Bowie, the ceremony’s host and a member of Branch 162, he reiterated the necessity of holding the service year upon year.
“It’s important to pass [the lessons] down generation to generation,” said Bowie. “We need to keep visibility on what our soldiers went through and current soldiers go through.”
Bowie is the son of Richard Bowie, a WWII veteran and the branch’s longest serving member. He shared stories of his father’s experiences and said he was happy with the number of people that attended the day’s service.
“It always amazes me at the number of people that continue to come out,” said James.
Father Justin Bertrand delivered the prayer and spoke about the importance of having the church attend Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“I think it’s important because our veterans were predominantly Christian,” said Bertrand, a priest with the Catholic Churches of Central Pontiac. “A sacrifice like theirs is a sacrifice of love that is very tied and close to our faith and religious beliefs.”
After the ceremony, the Pontiac Branch 162’s headquarters in Campbell’s Bay was packed to the brim as refreshments and food was served.
“It was a nice day and I’d like to thank everyone,” said Legion President Ron Woodstock. “I especially appreciate the soldiers from Petawawa and Warden Jane Toller for joining us.”
SHAWVILLE
CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE Nov. 11, 2017
A healthy crowd of civilians and military personnel gathered at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Shawville Saturday morning to pay respects to local service members as well as those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Soldiers from Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment from Garrison Petawawa were on parade for the ceremony. Local veterans Garry Davis and Robert Tremblay, as well as members of Royal Canadian Legion Pontiac Branch 162 were among the honoured guests in attendance.
After opening remarks from Shawville Mayor Sandra Murray and Clarendon Mayor John Armstrong, Archdeacon Mavis Brownlee gave a prayer of invocation. The mayors read the names of the veterans in attendance as well as the honoured dead from the region.
Pontiac High School student Connor Stephens read “In Flanders Fields” which was followed by a prayer of remembrance from Dr. Tim Perry of New Hope Christian Fellowship Church. Rachel Perry and Rev. Mary McDowell-Wood then gave scripture readings, from Psalm 121 and Matthew 5 respectively before the laying of the wreaths began.
Rev. William McDowell gave the final prayer and benediction before everyone headed to the Lions Hall to warm up and enjoy some refreshments.
LADYSMITH
Donald Teuma-Castelletti
LADYSMITH Nov. 11, 2017
A close-knit Remembrance Day service was held in Ladysmith on Saturday, welcoming the community to pay their respects outside of the TCRA.
Over 70 residents joined the mayor and soldiers from CFB Petawawa in holding the ceremony at 11 a.m., complete with laying wreaths at the base of their monument.
Mayor Karen Daly-Kelly led the ceremony, working as host and directing the proceedings. After welcoming everyone, an a cappella rendition of “O Canada” was conducted by the group.
A bible reading followed, as Claire Steinke read verses one through five of chapter four in the Book of Micah, and a prayer for the armed forces was delivered by Essie Schwartz-Dagenais.
Monique Atkinson recited “In Flanders Fields” and then Philip Atkinson led the laying of the wreaths, placing one on behalf of Canada. Atkinson and Cpl. Lindsay Schock accompanied everyone to the monument as the wreaths were laid. By the end of the ceremony, nearly 20 wreaths were placed in front alongside four soldiers from Petawawa, Pvt. Rickardo Bryce, Cpl. Steven Senechal, Pvt. Jeremy Melvin and Cpl. Justin Burman, who stood guard at the monument.
Daly-Kelly then held a moment of silence and Randall Born read “We Shall Keep the Faith,” a WWI poem by Moina Michael. Prayers and intercessions followed, as well as a singing of “God Save the Queen.”
“I think it’s probably one of the most important days of the year,” said Schock, on recognizing Remembrance Day. “It’s easy to lose sight of [the meaning] without a war going on.”
Though she’s not a resident of the area, her husband is, and so it was important for her to participate in the ceremony as well as having her son, Andrew Schock, help too. Andrew placed a wreath in honour of the St. George Anglican Church and all the children of the world.
“It’s important to have the children involved,” said Lindsay.
She said that as parents, they work together to teach Andrew the realities of war and the military, by answering all of his questions and asking him things, too.
“I don’t shield him from it,” she said. “He gets scared, he knows people die and he gets scared when mommy and daddy go away.”
BRISTOL
ANN TAYLOR
BRISTOL Nov. 11, 2017
Over 100 people gathered at the Bristol Cenotaph to observe a moment of silence to mark the sacrifice of those who have fallen and those who continue to give their service to our country.
Dr. Jessica Hetherington, student minister for St. Andrew’s-Knox United Church in Bristol, presided over the service that began with the singing of “O Canada.”
Hetherington reflected on the day saying, “We are here together, to remember. I am aware, however, that most Canadians are trying to remember something that they, that I, have never experienced.”
She said it’s a paradox to remember an experience that happened before our time.
“The paradox of being called to remember something you could never possibly forget, in a world that doesn’t always recognize what you experienced. The paradox of memories that don’t always correspond to the everyday lives of Canadians,” said Hetherington.
She also equated Remembrance Day itself as a paradox.
“It could even be seen as a contradiction. That men and women died for peace. That is a contradiction – death for peace. The contradiction – that the response to hate is, or should be, love. To match hate with love. That is a contradiction; it is a paradox,” she said.
We are being called to make a decision Hetherington said.
“The act of remembering is not just about recalling something to mind. The act of remembering is so that we might live differently into the future.” she said. “That is what the men and women fought and died for, so that we could live differently, could live in peace.”
Hetherington ended by asking the question of the attendees of what they are going to choose, “The act of remembering, even if, perhaps especially if, we are remembering that which we did not experience, is a call to make a decision. We are called to remember, and decide, to once again seek love over hate, forgiveness over retribution, life over death. As we remember, and decide, once again, to never forget.”
The “Last Post” was played followed by two minutes of silence and concluded with the “Reveille”.
Deacon Bob Farmer was invited to say a prayer.
The attendees joined in singing the hymn “Amazing Grace” preceding the laying of the wreaths.
Five members of the Bristol municipal council were first to lay a wreath. Ken Workman laid a wreath on behalf of the St. Andrew’s-Knox United Church and Randy Russell followed on behalf of Bristol Presbyterian Church.
Long-time owner of Pine Lodge in Bristol, Lois Thompson and her son Jim, laid a wreath in honour of Lois’ brother Earle Wright.
“My mom’s brother, Earle Wright, is buried in Holland. He lost his life on March 30, 1945, near the end of the second World War,” said Jim after the ceremonies.
William Smith recited the poem “In Flander’s Fields” from memory and “God Save the Queen” was sung to conclude the morning’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.
A light lunch was served following the ceremony at the Bristol Presbyterian Church.
PORTAGE DU FORT
CALEB NICKERSON
PORTAGE DU FORT Nov. 11, 2017
Over 100 people gathered in Portage du Fort on Saturday afternoon to commemorate the service of the men and women of the Canadian military. The Renfrew Pipes and Drums led members of the Renfrew Legion Branch 148 and as well as E Battery, 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery to the ceremony, where they served as honour guard.
Mayor Lynne Cameron thanked the crowd for attending and Archdeacon Mavis Brownlee led the assembled crowd in prayer.
Wreaths were laid by local officials, veterans and members of the community. A large field gun positioned close to the Ottawa River punctuated parts of the service.
Father Real Ouellette provided the closing prayer.
Rev. Bruce Ferguson, chaplain and Sgt. at Arms for the Renfrew Legion Branch 148, served as parade commander and explained that they are invited to the ceremonies in Portage every year, as the town doesn’t have a legion of its own.
Following the service, the parade made its way back to the town hall where everyone indulged in refreshments.
