On this, the 80th anniversary of the end of Word War II in 1945, the Remembrance Day ceremonies seem to be more poignant than ever as veterans age and many are no longer here.
While the number of veterans of early wars continues to fall due to age, in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) on Remembrance Day, the number of those who come out to remember and honour veterans of the past, and the present, appears to be on the rise.
Organized by Port Elgin Legion Branch 340, the moving ceremony at Cenotaph park saw all ages, from young elementary and secondary school students to veterans and families of veterans, take part.
Port Elgin Legion led the traditional parade with a Colour Party followed by the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, Veterans, the Fire and Police Services and the local Air Cadet Griffith Squadron.
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Port Elgin Legion Secretary, Norma Dudgeon and Chaplain, Pastor David Baker presided over the ceremony. Dudgeon read a moving excerpt from the diary of a young soldier in the trenches in Europe.
“It is raining today and the trenches are full of sloshing thick mud beneath my entire feet. Another day, another battle – another friend lost. I am really frightened about what today might bring. All around me are tired comrades in the endless mud.”
Dudgeon went on to say that the younger generations must learn about and remember those who gave their lives for the freedom that they have today. When it came to the traditional ‘two minutes of silence’, not a sound was heard as everyone stood in reverence.
Laying of Wreaths
This year also saw many youth from local schools in attendance with several laying wreaths on behalf of their school.
Youth Wreath Laying
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