It was another emotional and somber Nov. 11 at the Estevan Comprehensive School, as hundreds of local residents gathered for the Royal Canadian Legion Estevan branch’s Remembrance Day service.
Almost all the seats inside the school’s cafetorium were filled by people who turned out to show their support for Canada’s veterans. A few people were standing at the back of the venue.
“I think it’s good to see that all the seats are full, and that everybody is coming out to support their veterans and their loved ones who did serve or are still serving,” said local Legion president Troy LeBlanc.
He couldn’t pinpoint a reason as to why they’ve had larger crowds in the last few years, but LeBlanc is pleased to see that people continue to support the annual ceremony.
The service opened with the traditional parade entry of dignitaries, veterans, the Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary members and the Legion’s colours. After the Legion anthem and O Canada, the Last Post was played, and then two minutes of silence were observed, followed by Reveille.
LeBlanc read the Roll of Honour, which lists the names of people from Estevan who died in combat during the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.
LeBlanc and past-president Sharren Dukart placed a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier. Emcee and Legion member Geoff Thiessen read the famous war poem In Flanders Fields.
After the hymns of service, and a response to In Flanders Field by Sgt. Janna Cinnamon of the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadets, the annual multi-media presentation was shown for the crowd. It has the photos of hundreds of Estevan residents who served in combat missions and peacekeeping efforts.
Infantry music and songs from the war years played in the background while the photos scrolled through in alphabetical order.
LeBlanc noted they have added five or six photos of veterans each year.
“It is up to 15 minutes now, so it’s going very well,” said LeBlanc.
The crowd then shuffled into the school’s courtyard, where they watched local dignitaries, community leaders, service groups and youth organizations lay wreaths at a cenotaph that was set up. Members of the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadets and the Estevan Army Cadets guarded the cenotaph.
“I think everything went very well,” said LeBlanc. “I’m glad everybody came out to support it again this year, and the crowd looked quite happy to see everything going on.”
