聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淭hey shall not grow 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 shall remember them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Carlyle Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion hosted the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in town on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 10:45 in the gymnasium of Carlyle Elementary School.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Together those in attendance remembered those that have been lost in World War I and World War II, with roll calls being named, while words of remembrance were also said for those that have served in the Korean War, on peace keeping missions with the United Nations, and those involved with the war in the Middle East.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A total of 21 wreaths were laid in remembrance and in memory of individuals: Government of Canada, Government of Saskatchewan, Royal Canadian Legion, WWI, WWII, United Nations/NATO, Our Heroes of Afghanistan, Veterans who returned and have since passed on, Town of Carlyle, R.M. #63, RCMP, Cadets, Knights of Columbus, Lions, Carlyle Elementary School, Happy Gang, Crescent Point, Chamber of Commerce, Cornerstone Theatre, and in memory of Bessie and Claire Reid, Sgt. Don Simons, and Nelson Dunn.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Officiating this year was Sister Lucille who spoke of peace.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jesse Twietmeyer trumpeted 鈥淭he Last Post鈥� and 鈥淭he Reveille.鈥� 鈥淭he Last Post鈥� is played to signify the end of a military day, but it symbolizes more than just that, it is played at military funerals to indicate a soldier has been laid to rest and is also played in honour of all soldiers on Remembrance Day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Following two-minutes of silence 鈥淭he Reveille鈥� is played. This song is to wake soldiers beginning their day in military culture, but at Remembrance Day it once again signifies more: 鈥淎t the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dianne Twietmeyer read the poem 鈥淚n Flanders Fields,鈥� written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae over 100 years ago.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Guest speaker this year was Staff Sergeant Darren Simons of the RCMP. Simons spoke of the history of the RCMP in serving Canada as a paramilitary force. They served during the Northwest Rebellion, Boer War, squadrons were sent overseas in 1914 and 1918, while a Provost Corps was formed by the RCMP in 1942 serving in WWII as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淧ersonally I am a Canadian army veteran, I didn鈥檛 serve overseas, I didn鈥檛 have to face what others faced. But, my father was a 30 year veteran of the Provost Corps Military Police,鈥� Simons explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He spoke of the sacrifices, how when his father served in Cypress, his family was left at home corresponding only by letter. As infants though, he and his brother don鈥檛 remember his absence, but his father and mother did. When he and his brother were older, they noticed. They corresponded by letter and HAM radio, it wasn鈥檛 perfect, but they got to hear the their father/husband鈥檚 voice, which meant a lot to them.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When the father was sent to Germany, this time the family went with him. It was here that Staff Sargeant Simons joined the military, spending the first two weeks of his time in the Canadian military in Germany. Staff Sargeant Simons was sent back to Canada for training and he corresponded with his family by letter and 鈥� if he could convince the operator to talk 鈥� via radio.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The soldiers today have video calls and phone calls, but it鈥檚 not the same as being in person. Veterans from the World Wars and the Korean War only communicated with their family via letters.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 come quickly,鈥� Staff Sargeant Simons said. 鈥淔amilies would send letters and packages, but sometimes their loved ones would no longer be alive and the packages would arrive days, weeks, months later. Regiments would receive and share these packages that were sent, especially around Christmastime.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As the service concluded at Carlyle Elementary School the Colour Party paraded to the Cenotaph in town where three wreaths were laid: one for World War I and World War II veterans, one for all veterans who have returned from war, and one for UN/NATO members.
