A large crowd gathered around the Cenotaph in Riverside Memorial Park for the 11 a.m. service on Saturday.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
The annual Remembrance Day ceremony for Medicine Hat began at the Esplanade, with the theatre more than half full of those wishing to take part. In her welcome, president of Robertson Memorial Branch No. 17 Sheila Donner stated, “We live in a precarious world, we need to continue to pray for the peace won for us by our veterans. I’d like to thank all the veterans and their families for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
She encouraged everyone to not take their freedoms for granted and to consider how much different their lives would be if they feared persecution.
“As you leave today and in the days to come, think about what freedom means to you and how different your life would be without it. Take the time to speak to a veteran, thank them for their service, don’t wait until next Remembrance Day.”
After the reading of The Long Watch by Cadet Sgt. Lillian Morris, the Medicine Hat Girl’s Choir sang Be with Me followed by the Medicine Hat Concert Band and South Alberta Pipes and Drums performing an instrumental of Amazing Grace. Poppies rained down from the ceiling during the song, one of the highlights of the ceremony.
The service lasted about an hour and then everyone headed outside into a blustery day. Most of the audience from the Esplanade immediately walked down to the Riverside Memorial Park to join others already gathered for the 11 a.m. Cenotaph ceremony. A few chose to wait along the route to watch the parade walk by and followed them down.
There was a large crowd gathered in the park but, unfortunately, due to wind, only those closest to the front could hear the ceremony, although many said being present is what truly mattered.
