Locals reflect on anniversary of the day the guns went silent

By Lethbridge Herald on November 12, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Legion members, veterans, first responders, dignitaries, youth and hundreds of community members paid their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom at the Remembrance Day Parade and service held at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre, formally the Argi-Food Hub.

This year marks the 107th anniversary of the day guns went silent to mark the end of the First World War.

John Deys was the honourary parade marshal and speaker for the Service, spoke about his experiences as a young boy during the Second World War in the Netherlands.

He spoke about experiencing the German invasion as a nine-year-old boy, and the destruction and famine which followed.

“When the Germans invaded Arlington, I remember the bombings and sirens and soldiers in the streets, so many grey uniforms filled the streets.”

He also shared how everything changed in an instant when Canadian soldiers liberated them in the spring of 1945

May 8,2025 marked the 80th anniversary of V-E Day and to this day the Dutch people share their gratitude to the Canadian soldiers by attending to the graves of those who were killed as if they were their own family and sending thousands of tulip bulbs each year.

Following Deys empowering speech, Mary Insley, membership chair of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion, placed the wreath for bereaved family, followed by dignitaries including MP Rachael Thomas; Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge East; Mayor Blaine Hyggen and various military groups and first responders.

Following the service at the cenotaph, there was a scheduled fly over of a C-17 Globemaster and a Harvard IV.