OLDS — Residents gathered in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 and at the cenotaph in Centennial Park Thursday to participate in Remembrance Day services.
In her address in the Legion, Mayor Judy Dahl thanked all those who came out for the service.
“It is a great privilege to live in a community that continues to bring together dedicated veterans and volunteers that support and promote their Royal Canadian Legion in good times and bad times,” Dahl said.
“On behalf of council and the people of Olds community, we are proud of our Royal Canadian Legion veterans, their families and all volunteers that continue to serve and educate us. They sacrifice their tomorrow for our today. Lest we forget them.”
Chaplain Harold Hunter served as MC.
During his address, Hunter relayed the story of an airman who was forever grateful for the sacrifice of his pilot who told him to bail out while he tried to land their plane after it was hit by enemy fire. Unfortunately, that pilot died in the ensuing crash.
“Today, across the world, we pause to pay tribute to those who left everything behind so that our lives could be free,” Hunter said.
He said Jesus laid down his life so we could know true forgiveness and peace.
“We remind ourselves, ‘lest we forget.’ We’re tempted to do that, you see; to forget,” Hunter said.
“(Former U.S. president) Herbert Hoover said it well: ‘peace is not made at council tables or by treaties, but in the hearts of men and women everywhere."
Leslie Manchur, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105’s Sgt.-At-Arms, gave the poppy message.
She noted that this year is the 100th anniversary of the poppy being utilized as a symbol of those who have died in war. The money raised goes to aid veterans and their families.
Manchur thanked all those who attended the service “to show respect and to never forget,” she said. “Please pass it on to the next generation so they will never forget.”
Manchur also thanked all front-line workers as well as RCMP, firefighters, ambulance personnel, and all others employed in the health care system.
“Thank you, respect and gratitude, especially during this difficult era of the COVID crisis,” she said.
Manchur asked representatives of those various professions to stand so they could be honoured for their service. They received a loud ovation from the crowd.
École Olds High School principal Tom Christensen recited the famous poem In Flanders Fields, written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer and doctor who saw the poppies growing in the fields where men had died. Their red colour symbolized the blood of those men.
Chaplain Charles Johnson gave some readings and a prayer.
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes said in part:
“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
“A time to be born and a time to die.
“A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.
“A time to kill and a time to heal.
“A time to love and a time to hate.
“A time for war and a time for peace.”
Johnston also gave a reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. It said in part:
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
“Nations shall not lift up the sword against nations. Neither shall they learn war anymore.”
From the Book of Revelation:
“Blessed are the dead and from now on, die in the lord.
“'Yes, said the spirit. 'They will rest in their labours, for their deeds will follow them.'”
From the Gospel of John:
“This is my commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you.
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Johnston’s prayer said, “eternal God, we thank you for this land in which we dwell and for the high price paid to keep her free.
“We thank you for those valiant hearts who at the call of sovereign and country, laid down their lives in the cause of freedom.
“We pray that we may uphold the torch entrusted to us so their sacrifice may not have been in vain.
“Unite all the peace-loving peoples in the world in one purpose: to defend the principles of freedom for which these valiant hearts lived and died.”
Hunter served as MC for a very brief service at the cenotaph in Centennial Park.
About 50 people were on hand to witness the service, during which a couple of wreaths were laid at the foot of the cenotaph.
“It’s a sunny day, but it’s a sad day because we remember all of those whose blood has stained the pavements and grounds of our world over the years, so that we today could breathe clean air and know that we are at peace,” Hunter said.
"We want to thank you for that and thank you for the sacrifices that were made. And may we never forget that; keeping it in mind every day. Those who have stood in the front lines for us and those who are standing there, even today.”
After that service, several members of the crowd went up to the cenotaph to pay their respects.
Thirty wreaths were purchased by all three levels of government as well as various clubs, organizations, businesses and local residents.
A program for the indoor service listed the names of 44 local residents who died during the First and Second World Wars, as well as in the Korean War.
