Remembering those who served, and continue to serve

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
“We will remember them,” echoed those in attendance after each verse, as Kaya Jamjekian, a Grade 8 student at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, read aloud the act of commitment.

“’We shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’”

Kaya Jamjekian with Rev. Brian Nicholson

“They were young, as we are young, as they served giving freely of themselves. To them we pledge amid the winds of time to carry their torch, and never forget. We will remember them.”

A sombre occasion at the cenotaph on Picton’s Main Street Monday saw many local residents pay their respects this Remembrance Day, which included a good number of Prince Edward Collegiate Institute students.

It was an unseasonably warm, but blustery day, for the ceremony, led by Diane Kennedy, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 78 President, as a dark overcast sky threatened rain but it didn’t materialize.

Through many years and conflicts, brave Canadians have made unimaginable sacrifices leaving their families, homes and dreams to protect the values and freedom that make our country what it is today, said Kennedy.

“Their courage and selflessness allow us, and generations yet to come, to live in peace.”

She noted that more than 2.3 million Canadians served in uniform, more than 120,000 of them lost their lives, where their names are recorded in Canada’s eight books of remembrance on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Colonel John Inrig is assisted to lay a wreath for the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment.

“We honour their memory and legacy at the cenotaph and memorials during ceremonies across Canada and around the world,” she said. “Today, we pause to remember and honour those who sacrificed their lives to protect our future.”

Phil St.-Jean

Councillor Phil St-Jean shared a few words on behalf of the municipality, where councillors John Hirsch and Kate MacNaughton, were also in attendance, he noted.

“Today, we honour the many brave men and women who proudly served our country through two world wars, the Korean war, served in Afghanistan and the many conflicts throughout the world over the last 100 years;’ said St-Jean, adding, “and I am proud to say my father was one of them”.

He said, without their sacrifices, we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today.

“All Canadians, for that matter, anyone who lives in a modern democracy and serves in our military, and their families, a huge amount of respect and thanks for all their sacrifices.”

St-Jean noted how the problems faced today seem trivial compared to what grandparents and parents dealt with.

“When you think our world is going crazy, just imagine what they were thinking. When Europe was under siege, the pacific was under siege, and the west was being threatened by fascists and imperialist empires.”

“They had to make extreme sacrifices daily and unfortunately, some eternally, to ensure our generation, and those who follow us, will have and enjoy the freedoms we have today.”

Kennedy explained the significance of the bugle call and the Rouse, noting how bugle calls have been used by military camps since the 1800s.

“The Last Post was originally played to signal the camp was secured for the night, to call out to the wounded and separated soldiers to guide them back to camp,” Kennedy said. “The Remembrance Day ceremonies that came to symbolize calling home of souls of the fallen, and today it also acts to call us into remembrance.“

She explained that the Rouse was played at the camp to begin the soldiers in the morning, and came to symbolize the awakening of the fallen to rise above their mortal duties and rest in peace.

“Today, Last Post, two minutes silence, and the Rouse are played to help us remember the fallen and reflect upon their sacrifices.”

Remembrance Day ceremonies were also held in Consecon and Wellington this year.

The story of Charles Lloyd was shared with the wreath placed in his honor:
Cpl Chuck Lloyd
KIA Assoro July 22, 1943
I am Cpl Chuck Lloyd, brother of Frank Lloyd, Eva Morgan, Alice Rankin, Millie Cory, Beatrice and Bessie. I was a rifle section leader with the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment in WW II. The night of July 21 some of us volunteered to climb Mt Assoro in Sicily. We climbed the 3100 ft high mountain including a 1100 ft high cliff in the dark to get to the top, above the enemy. In the morning, after we got to the top, the ground was too rocky to dig slit trenches so I was hit by a shell and killed. 69 Hasty Ps died in that battle but we took the mountain and the town of Leonforte below. It was July 22, 1943. I was 21. Thanks for remembering.