CARLYLE - The Carlyle branch of the Royal Canadian Legion held a well-attended Remembrance Day ceremony in the Carlyle Elementary School gymnasium on Nov. 11.
District 1 zone commander Nedra Clark served as the MC for the ceremony and started by calling for sergeant-at-arms John Voutour to march in the colours. The colour party consisted of RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Shortland, flag bearers Mike Makelki, Lexi Wainman, Ryan Cooper, Chrissy Corbiere, Jessica Cooper and Doug Waldner, followed by serving members Bombardier Eaton, Trooper Eaton and Sgt. Trevor Robertson.
Once the colour party was in place O Canada was sung and the time of remembrance took place. Bugler Jesse Twietmeyer played The Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence and Reveille.
Clark then called on Mike and Clareen Makelki to read the honour roll of those lost in the First and Second World Wars. She followed with the Act of Remembrance.
At this point the choir, led by Wendy Rounce, performed an original composition by Dianne Twietmeyer entitled Lest We Forget, whose words clearly expressed the purpose of Remembrance Day.
Father Chris Juchacz provided a gospel reading and delivered a sermon.
Another item in the ceremony included the ceremonial wreath-laying for remembrance. During that time, the cadets served to bring the wreaths forward. Notable people who laid wreaths included Carlyle Mayor Jennifer Sedor, Shortland, Bombardier Eaton, Trooper Eaton and Sgt. Robertson.
Twietmeyer read In Flanders Fields. A short presentation was shown on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and its efforts in peacekeeping. Clark also read a poem written by Warrant Officer Cameron (Frank) Coffey, which was written on Nov. 11, 1996. Coffey died the following year.
Juchacz led the crowd in a prayer and the benediction. The colour party was called to march out the colours, which ended the ceremony at the school. The ceremony later was reconvened for a brief wreath-laying at the cenotaph.
The Carlyle legion extends its appreciation to the cadets of the Bow Valley Air Cadets for their assistance throughout the ceremony, to Juchacz, to the serving members of the forces who attended, and everyone who attended to honour those who served and sacrificed.
Additional stories on Remembrance Day activities in the southeast can be found in this week's edition of the Observer.
