Olds residents paid their respect to war veterans at the Ralph Klein Centre on Remembrance Day.
The wreath-laying ceremony, which was organized by the Olds branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, drew close to 1,000 people, said Marc Swanson, legion president.
After the indoor event was over, about 100 people made their way to the community cenotaph for the outdoor ceremony.
“It went relatively well. The weather was fantastic for us. I have been down here at the cenotaph when it was minus-30 C, trying to do this,” Swanson said.
“We do it regardless of the weather.”
At the indoor ceremony, the Olds High School ensemble played O Canada and God Save the Queen, while the Evergreen Singers sang The Maple Leaf Forever and Let There Be Peace on Earth. Royal Canadian Air Cadet Warrant Officer 2nd Class Jesse Peachment read In Flanders Fields. Padre Harold Hunter officiated the service. Two minutes of silence were observed at 11 a.m. by the crowd, to respect the tradition of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. More than 38 wreaths and crosses were laid at the indoor cenotaph by Olds residents and organizations.
Swanson said he believes that Remembrance Day is for all veterans, and not just veterans from the First World War and the Second World War.
“What about the 19-year-old kid up in Edmonton that is a veteran now?” Swanson said.
Swanson himself joined the army in the 1960s and was a soldier for 25 years. He says that every day is Remembrance Day for him.
“I remember the guys that were on my left and on my right. They are not here anymore,” he said.
“That is really important to me.”
