Veterans honoured at Remembrance Day ceremony

The Remembrance Day parade ended at the cenotaph in King’s Navy Yard Park, where the crowd gathered and the ceremony was held.

Remembrance Day was once again well attended this year, with the public taking time to pay tribute to those who served and continue to serve.

Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 organized and presented the parade and ceremony, with the parade leaving from the Dalhousie St. branch and heading down Murray St., Sandwich St. S., and Richmond St. before arriving at the cenotaph in King’s Navy Yard Park for the 11 a.m. service.

Names of the fallen that are on the cenotaph were read aloud, with family members allowed to lay wreaths to remember them. Family of others who served also laid wreaths with businesses also allowed to take part.

Luke van Noggeren, a constituency assistant with the office of Essex MP Chris Lewis, read remarks from Lewis. It was a day to honour “those who gave so much,” van Noggeren stated.

The sacrifices of those who served will not be forgotten, he said on behalf of Lewis, also noting the sacrifices of families.

The colour guard from Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 helped lead everyone to the ceremony last Tuesday morning. The Amherstburg Legion helped co-ordinate the parade and ceremony again this year.

“We owe them a debt of gratitude,” said van Noggeren. “We will not forget.”

Armand Anderson, chief of staff for Essex MPP Anthony Leardi, noted Amherstburg is a small town in a relatively young country, but has had residents travel the world in service to their country.

Anderson, on behalf of Leardi, said the remembering of Canada’s veterans should not be just a one-day occurrence, but should happen regularly due to the legacy they left us.

“May we always remember,” said Anderson. “May we always be grateful.”Mayor Michael Prue said he recalled joining the Royal Canadian Legion 35 years ago and hearing concerns about children and youth remembering what soldiers went through. Pointing out there were youth and children in attendance at the parade and the ceremony, he said those fears need not have been felt.

“We will never forget,” the mayor stated.

Prue noted that town council has worked with Legion Br. 157 on several initiatives in recent years, including the crosswalk at Dalhousie St. and Murray St., the veterans banners, renaming a portion of Dalhousie St. as “Veterans Way” and putting poppies on street signs named for veterans.

“We have so many things that we’ve tried to do,” said Prue. “We do this so people will remember.”

Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 president Shawn Wilkie thanked the crowd for attending Tuesday morning’s ceremony and parade. 

Wilkie said Remembrance Day is not a day of celebration, but one to commemorate veterans who fought to preserve Canada’s freedom.

Wilkie said the sacrifices the veterans made should not just be remembered once a year, but all year long. He urged people to thank veterans if they are speaking with them.

Following the service at the cenotaph, the parade marched past a reviewing stand at the Gordon House before ending in front of Legion Br. 157.

Veterans honoured at Remembrance Day ceremony

By Ron Giofu