We as Canadians would pay the greatest tribute to our veterans by taking lessons from what they went through, so future generations can avoid making the same mistakes in their lives, a packed audience heard Monday in the Weyburn Legion Hall.
We as Canadians would pay the greatest tribute to our veterans by taking lessons from what they went through, so future generations can avoid making the same mistakes in their lives, a packed audience heard Monday in the Weyburn Legion Hall.
The guest speaker for the ceremonies was Keith Inches of the Saskatchewan Military Museum in Regina, along with remarks brought by Mayor Debra Button, MLA Dustin Duncan and MP Ed Komarnicki.
The indoor part of the ceremonies followed the ceremonies held outside at the cenotaph in Memorial Park, where trumpeter Alexis Watson played the "Last Post", two minutes of silence was observed, and then "Reveille" was played.
War Mother Vera Murray, assisted by grandson Rob McClinton, laid the first wreath, followed by the MP, MLA and mayor in turn along with other dignitaries, representatives of service groups and organizations and businesses. Inside the Legion in the upper hall, the War Mother was introduced before the representatives of government made their remarks.
In his speech, Inches noted when he was growing up, there were still veterans of the Boer War and First World War alive, and the soldiers from the Second World War were just coming home - but, he admits, he didn't talk to a lot of these vets, and wishes that he had.
"They've got wonderful stories to tell; we can take some lessons from what they did," he said, adding he wished more young people were in the hall for the service so he could pass on that advice to them, to learn what lessons they could from people who have been in war.
He related stories of different young people he's talked to when they come through the museum to show little they are learning these days about what happened in wartime or why.
One young person he talked to admitted that all he knew about war he learned from the TV and computer games, and what he wanted to do was get a bazooka or rocket-propelled grenade launcher and go blow stuff up, such as schools.
Inches noted he had a display of prosthetic limbs and stories of soldiers who lost hands or leg; after 45 minutes of going through this display he asked the youngster, "Do you still want to blow stuff up?" and the boy shook his head. "No."
On another occasion, he talked with a veteran who was a prisoner-of-war in Japan, and his knees were wrecked because they had to crawl through a mine where the female guards were stripped to their waist because of how hot it was in the mine.
"He said they weren't really women; when I asked what were they, he said, 'They're people who beat you with a stick if you don't do what they want'," said Inches, adding that in spite of how badly he was treated, the veteran said he didn't hate his captors, as they did what they thought was right.
"'Life is too short to hate, and I didn't want to bring hate back home', the vet said. We can learn from the people who were in combat, but most people who were in combat don't want to speak about what they went through, and that's understandable. Perhaps we should talk to them and learn what they went through. I'd like young people in particular to talk to servicemen and women and get rid of the hate," said Inches.
People should also learn not to blame others but take some lessons from veterans and "use them in our lives."
In his remarks, MP Komarnicki said he was honoured to meet the War Mother, Vera Murray, and commented, "I can't imagine mothers who've lost sons, husbands and fathers; it must be devastating, and you represent many across the country who lost loved ones in the First and Second World Wars. It's hard to get a sense of what people went through."
Among the milestones observed this year, he said, is 2013 was declared as the Year of the Korean War veterans.
MLA Duncan said in the 93 years preceding this one, people struggled with the best way to mark Remembrance Day, whether as a time of triumph, or of loss and anger for what has been lost.
He added that whether soldiers have served in Korea, Croatia or more recently in Kandahar, he said it's important that we remember what they did on our behalf, an "incalculable debt that we must pay."
Mayor Button said those gathered were joining thousands upon thousands of others gathered in a similar way across the country and around the world to pay tribute to those who served in war, in peace and in peace-keeping efforts.
She noted many members of the community contributed to the freedom and security that we enjoy today.
"I too wear my poppy and with the utmost of respect, along with the rest of city council, I say we won't forget. Canadians will continue to play a pivotal role, and we need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
