Hundreds of people of all ages took part in Remembrance Day ceremonies across the region, expressing gratitude to the nation's war dead and recognizing past and current serving Canadian Armed Forces members.
During the Carstairs service in the community centre, Memorial Silver Cross Mother Susan Curnow lay the first wreath of remembrance. Her son Richard was a Canadian Army master corporal who died in a training accident in Edmonton six years ago.
One hundred years after area MLA Joseph Emmett Stauffer died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, current Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper, accompanied by his daughters Paxton and Peyton, laid a wreath of remembrance.
More than other 20 groups, organizations and individuals also placed wreaths during the service.
Legion pastor Harry Hoehne, with Carstairs Church of God, gave the call to worship and the invocation.
"Gracious and Sovereign God, our hearts turn to you as we embrace the sombre significance of this day," Hoehne said in part. "Bring healing to those who suffer the horrible consequences of war, mend the rifts that pit nation against nation. Give us the grace to find alternatives to vengeance and violence and the courage to advocate for peaceful solutions to our conflicts."
Legion president Norma Disney recited the names of the 28 Carstairs and area soldiers, sailors and airmen who died in the First and Second World Wars, and in the Korean War.
Legion member Garry Bratland delivered the Remembrance Day message, speaking about the little-known 10-day Battle of Hill 70 in August 1917, where 1,877 Canadians were killed and a further 8,677 wounded.
Porter Cooper, 10, recited In Flander's Fields.
Guests sang the hymn The Day Thou Gavest, which includes the lines "As o'er each continent and island, the dawn leads to another day."
In Cremona about 125 people attended the ceremony in the Cremona Community Hall.
Legion members, local RCMP officers, members of the Air Cadets 185 Squadron were among those who took part of the processions.
Air cadet Flight Sgt. Bill Hawkins recited In Flanders Fields.
Those in attendance included Second World War veteran Cam McRae.
Reverent Michael Lum and Steven Zub were the ministers in attendance. Kerry Berryman, Cremona Legion vice-president, was the MC.
Jessie Morales was the bagpiper for the ceremony. The Cremona School band also performed.
Guests sang the hymn On God Help In Ages Past.
In Didsbury, residents of all ages came out to the Zion church for the Remembrance Day service.
The service began with the entrance of the colour party led by bugler Teena Wilks.
Reverend Mike Morgan gave the invocation prayer and scripture.
The Didsbury Valley Voices and their younger counterparts the Junior Valley Voices performed several songs including Why We Sing, Sing You Home and God Save the Queen.
Reverend Todd MacDonald from Sundre, who is also a former combat medic, gave the Remembrance Day address.
"When Canada is called to come to the aid of others who are unable to defend themselves, unable to help themselves, our nation has proudly stepped up and answered the call," said MacDonald.
"The men of women of this great nation have put their needs on the backburner and have served the needs of others whether on our home soil or far away."
MacDonald said the service was not just about remembering the soldiers but also the peace officers and other emergency personnel as well as the families who let them go.
"When the alarm goes off those who answer the call go forth into battle while their families remain behind not knowing if they would return - praying for their safe return," he said.
"While some do not return, others return but unfortunately they are changed forever. So many of our veterans still struggle with the nightmares they never, never forget. Many pray there will never be a repeat of what they went through."
Following the address from MacDonald, Second World War veteran Bill Jepps read the famous poem In Flanders Fields. Jepps then read the honour roll.
Wilks played the Last Post on the bugle, which was followed by two minutes of silence. After Wilks played Reveille, Jepps read Act of Remembrance, a short poem.
The laying of the wreaths started with Didsbury RCMP Staff Sgt. Chad Fournier laying a wreath for the RCMP.
There was about a dozen other wreaths laid by groups and individuals.
The ceremony ended with the benediction by Reverend Morgan and the retiring of the colour party.
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