Remembrance Day

This was our first Remembrance Day in Lockeport - it was a very moving experience.

In Ottawa, with various school groups, I have attended the national ceremonies at the War Memorial (November 11 is not a school holiday in Ontario - children are expected to mark the occasion in their school) and witnessed the full-blown pomp and ceremony version of remembrance. That is moving too - a different kind of ceremony to what can happen in a small town.

One commonality of the two types of services was the weather - Lockeport managed to come up with that November bite in the air, some sun, some cloud, wind, and even a few drops of rain. Just like I have always experienced in the past.

Our Remembrance Day began with a non-denominational church service in the United Baptist church - probably the largest in town and conveniently situated across the street from the town Cenotaph. The church was literally standing-room only. The local Legion members were the church ushers, The service was conducted by local clergy, the head of the Legion branch and our mayor. All uniformed personnel in the area were out in full regalia - RCMP, fire departments, First Responders and assorted veterans in uniform and politicians wearing the regalia of their office.

Highlights of the service were "O Canada", "The Last Post", 2 minutes of silence, "Reveille", the mayor reading the entire list of the fallen from the area, a short Remembrance Day address from the head of the Legion, prayers and a closing with "God Save the Queen". The congregation then followed the veterans across to the Cenotaph for the laying of wreathes - I would guess at least 60 of them, from the traditional Canadian and Nova Scotia government ones, to most area businesses and service clubs and the bulk in memory of loved ones from local citizens. The base of the Cenotaph was completely covered on all sides. A very personal expression of feelings and memories.