Remembrance Day crowds asked to reflect on courage and sacrifice

By Lethbridge Herald on November 11, 2024.

Honourary Lieutenant Colonel Dory Rossiter of the 20th Independent Field Battery stands in front of the Cenotaph after laying a wreath on behalf of all citizens. Herald photo by Al Beeber

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Under grey skies a huge audience crowded around the Lethbridge Cenotaph on Monday for one of two Remembrance Day ceremonies beings staged simultaneously in the city.

The other – an indoor event  – at the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre also attracted a huge crowd.

The outdoor ceremony featured powerful closing remarks by Lieutenant Colonel Cole McGregor, commander of the 429 Transport Squadron who also spoke Sunday night at the Freemasons of Lethbridge “The Vacant Chair” ceremony in the Lethbridge Masonic Hall.

The solemn outdoor ceremony Monday had two fly-bys, one by local pilot Geoffrey Brayne in his two-seat Harvard MK IV and a second by a C-17 Globemaster attached to the 419 Squadron which flew low over the Cenotaph late in the ceremony. 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Master of Ceremonies Matthew McHugh opened the Cenotaph service by giving the audiences a history of the symbolism behind the poppy and the Cenotaph itself.

Under the command of Cenotaph Vigil Commander Brantly Berry four members of the 20th Independent Field Battery took their positions before Tony Zappone sang Canada’s national anthem.

Ken Lewis performed a mournful Last Post which was followed by two minutes of silence and then the Lament performed by bagpiper David Kaminski. Lewis followed with the Rouse, also known as reveille.

McGregor and CWO Nevin Surette of the 429 Transport Squadron laid a wreath for all military and veterans before Honourary Lieutenant Colonel Dory Rossiter of the Field Battery laid a wreath for all citizens.

Captain Luke Watson, the Field Battery’s padre, recited In Flanders Fields before McGregor spoke to the audience of the courage that it has taken for freedom to prevail in Canada.

McGregor said the Remembrance Day is to remember, reflect and express gratitude to those who fought for freedom. 

Through their courage, they shaped the world we live in today, said McGregor, calling the day a personal one for many who honour the memories of grandfathers, fathers, brothers, mothers, grandmothers and sisters, sons and daughters.

“It’s a solemn day but also an opportunity for all Canadians to come together united by our shared history and the profound responsibility to never forget the cost of peace,” said McGregor, a pilot who has served Canada at home and around the world, an experience which has taught him two lessons, those being at as Canadians, “we are extremely fortunate to know what it means to live peacefully, to have opportunity, to have community.”

The second lesson is that peace isn’t as guaranteed as it may seem, he said.

“The peace we know today required immense courage and sacrifice to create and continues to require courage and sacrifice to maintain,” he added.

McGregor said he stood on Monday to “honour those who came before us, the brave souls  who flew before I flew, who risked everything to give me an opportunity. They are the ones who gave us the gift of peace, the ones we remember today.” He talked about the courage it took for young air crews to climb into an aircraft knowing they might not return to earth alive.

“Imagine the courage it takes to run towards an enemy who’s firing at you, to leave a protected area and run towards danger, run towards fear, run towards pain. Imagine the courage it takes to sail into the open sea knowing an enemy is lurking beneath, knowing you have no life line, knowing you’re vulnerable and alone.

“Canadians fought, Canadians flew, Canadians sailed and Canadians sacrificed. They ran towards fear, climbed away from safety, sailed past security so we might live in a world with peace, might have the opportunity, might find hope. That sort of courage is almost unimaginable but today we must try to imagine,” McGregor told the crowd, asking them to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made, courage shown and duty fulfilled by those who have served this country.

“Remember that their efforts were not for recognition or reward but for you and I, for a chance to give us peace. It’s easy to forget in our busy lives the cost of that peace but we must never allow ourselves the debt we owe to those who fought for it,” he added. Remembrance Day honours their memory and legacy, that legacy which defines to this day the lives and opportunities of Canadians, he said.

Families of those who served and especially died also endured hardship, made sacrifices and showed courage and they are owed gratitude as well, he added.

McGregor said peace isn’t guaranteed, it must be protected and preserved, requiring constant attention and Canadians have a duty to remember that the sacrifices of Canadians won’t be forgotten.

The Exhibition ceremony included Honourary Parade Marshall Vance McGrath of the Lethbridge Salute our Veterans project, Parade Marshall Tasma Wall who is Sergeant-at-Arms of the General Stewart Branch #4 of the Royal Canadian Legion and Cenotaph Vigil Commander Cadet Sgt. Saachee Josan,

The Act of Remembrance was recited by Gary McLean, past president of the General Stewart Branch.

Ann Dostie placed a wreath for bereaved families.