On the afternoon of Saturday, May 15 a rededication ceremony was held for the City of Yorkton cenotaph.
In 2005 numerous items that were in need of repair and restoration on the City of Yorkton's Cenotaph were identified. In cooperation with the City of Yorkton and Veteran's Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #77 Yorkton coordinated the research and work necessary to restore the Cenotaph to its original condition. The work and restoration on the cenotaph, which was originally dedicated on May 25th 1930, was completed in early May.
A parade took place as part of the ceremony, it began in front of the Yorkton Armories and made its way to the cenotaph located at the intersection of Darlington Street and Second Avenue. The parade involved Legion members from the local branch, as well as other branches in the zone. The parade also involved the RCMP, Yorkton and District Pipe Band, 64th Field Battery RCA, city fire fighters, all Cadet Corps, local Scouts and any other organization that wished to participate. The rededication ceremony began with the singing of O Canada and a prayer and scripture reading by Padre Ken Buchan. The new name places were unveiled by Silver Cross Mother Susan Shipway, and were dedicated in prayer by Padre Ken Buchan. The Sergeant at Arms deposited the colors and the inscription on the dedication plate was read by Yorkton mayor James Wilson.
The 145 names on the new plates were read by Sacred Heart High School students, and Yorkton Regional High School students. Following the reading of names the Sergeant at Arms retrieved the colors. The Last Post was played followed by two minutes of silence and lament concluding with the playing of the Reveille.
An act of remembrance was performed by Comrade Al Morley. The laying of the wreaths took place; this involved local government officials, heads of local organizations, and Armed Forces representatives. The ceremony concluded with a benediction by Padre Ken Buchan, and the singing of God Save the Queen. Upon conclusion of the ceremony the parade marched back to the Yorkton Armories for dismissal.
Comrade John Miller, a World War two veteran, says, "it's quite an achievement to serve all these years," and that he "is not concerned with the living, but the dead." When asked what the rededication meant to him Miller said, "it takes you back a few years ago and what you went through." Miller is proud that the cenotaph has been repaired, because he feels thatsomething as important as a cenotaph needs to be preserved. When asked about the current war Canadian soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan Miller says, "we are protecting the innocent, and helping them," but that when he was in the war "we knew who the enemy was, and now they don't know who they are."
Peter Wyatt is the current president of the local Royal Canadian Legion General Alexander Ross Branch #77. When asked about the rededication he says, "you visualize what it should look like, and it is rewarding to see it finished." Wyatt would also like to thank all the people who put in countless hours of research and work in restoring the cenotaph, because it could not have been done without them.
