(Posted 11:30 a.m., Nov. 12)
Hundreds turnout for local Remembrance Day ceremonies
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau lays a wreath at the Orléans Legion cenotaph during Remebrance Day ceremonies on Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Despite the inclement weather hundreds of local residents turned out at local Remembrance Day ceremonies in Navan, Cumberland Village and Orléans on Saturday to honour the many men and women who have served their country over the years in both wartime and peace.

One of the largest crowds in recent memory stood in the pouring rain to take in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in Navan.

The ceremony was emceed by Bob Parsons, a native of Navan and a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. During the proceedings, Parsons read some of the inscriptions he's copied down over the years off the crosses which mark the grave sites of Canadians buried overseas.

Parsons also took a moment to tell the story of Squadron Leader Ian Bazalgette who was awarded the Victoria Cross for trying to land his badly damaged bomber and save the lives of two injured crewmen. All three men died in the attempt, but Bazalgette managed to avoid crashing into a small French town.

The Navan ceremony also included a reciting of the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" by Heritage Public School students Brianna Champagne and Victoria Dark, while the lesser known verse,"High Flight" by Pilot Officer John Magee was read by Megan MacDonald and Marissa Lacroix.

Among the wreath bearers were William Shaw who laid the WWI wreath in honour of his great-uncle Garrett Shaw who was killed in the Great War, and Leonard resident Victor Mount who is a veteran of the Second World War.

Fellow WWII veteran Eric Smith, laid a wreath in honour of the servicemen and women who died during the Korean War in which he also served. In fact, Mr. Smith is one of only five Canadians still alive who completed a tour of duty in both the Korean War and the Second World War as a fighter pilot.

"I think about all the friends I had and the ones I lost and all the good times we shared," Smith said afterwards when asked what Remembrance Day means to him after so many years.

In Cumberland Village, local WWII veteran Angus Wilson recited "In Flanders Fields", while fellow veteran Dr. I.F. Kennedy, whose younger brother Carleton died in the war, read out the names of the fallen.

Later on, Dr. Kennedy took a turn at the piano and serenaded the crowd at a reception at the Lions Maple Hall with several wartime melodies including "It's a long way to Tipperary".

The Remembrance Day ceremony at the Orléans Legion in the Taylor Creek Business Park has traditionally drawn the largest crowd. On Saturday well over 900 people gathered at the cenotaph to take in this year's proceedings which were led off with the singing of "O Canada" by members of the Cumberland Community Singers.

Among the VIPs in attendance were Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau, MPP Phil McNeely, Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli and councillors Rainer Bloess, Bob Monette and Michel Bellemare. A smattering of World War II veterans were also on hand including Ernie Schnubb who laid a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph in honour of all WWII vets.

Over 61,000 Canadians died in the First World War at a time when the population of Canada was just eight million. Forty-two thousand men and women perished during the Second World War. But many of the people in attendance at the local ceremonies were there to show their support for the men and women currently serving in Afghanistan and the 42 who have died since 2002.

"I didn't start coming until about five years ago when I first started bringing the kids and we haven't missed one since," said Bill Reuben from Orléans. "I just think its important that we support our troops in any way we can and this is my way."

Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau says the meaning of Remembrance Day has evolved for many people over the years, especially among the younger generation.

"It's not about old men who served in WWII anymore, it's about young men who are risking their lives for peace and freedom every day," says Galipeau. "When you think of it, it's my generation which benefited from the sacrifices that our fathers and uncles made and yet we least appreciated it. When I see the sacrifices that these young people are making, and I'm not even talking about the ones who are killed and wounded, It's hard to imagine. I don't think I could do it."

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