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�
听听听听听听听听听听听 -Laurence Binyon
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 Carlyle joined communities from throughout the local area and from across Canada in honouring the nation's fallen soldiers on Saturday, Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Remembrance Day service was presented by the Carlyle Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and was held at the Carlyle Elementary School gym and concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Somber traditions once again marked this year's Remembrance Day service: the marching of the colours, the Last Post (played by Jesse Twietmeyer), the reading of 'In Flanders Fields' by Diane Twietmeyer, the prayers and scripture readings, the anthems, the laying of wreaths, the parade to the Cenotaph and the two minutes' silence.
听听听听听听听听听听听 This year's speaker was Reverend Dan MacNaughton of the Carlyle Full Gospel Church. MacNaughton - an interim minister who hails from Langley, B.C. - said he prepared for his speech by doing some local research.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淟ast week, I went by the local cenotaph, across from the hockey arena,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he cenotaph has two brass plaques inscribed with names. It is a visual reminder of the 24 young men that gave their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918 and the 19 young men in the War to End All Wars, 1939-1945.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淎s I have only been in your community for the past six months, I hardly recognize the family names, let alone know the stories behind each name,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲hat I do know about your community, and so many other communities across our great nation, is that these young men gave their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms of today.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 A self-described history buff, MacNaughton gave a brief overview of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, describing it as:听 鈥淎 decisive battle that was won in Northern France. 170,000 Canadians fought that day. 3,598 were killed and another 7,004 wounded.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚n a single day.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭heir sacrifice and heroism in the face of incredible danger was a nation-defining moment,鈥� he said.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淯pon reflection of the price paid at Vimy Ridge and other battles such as Passchendaele, I believe the soldiers of that era would be appalled at the way our generation have abused our freedoms, and are now allowing others to come into our country and make demands on our society that they were unable to achieve in their native homeland.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淗owever, there is a generation that live today in freedom because of their sacrifice,鈥� continued MacNaughton. 鈥淟ast Sunday after service, I was approached by a member of my congregation who was born in Denmark in 1946. He was born a free man and not a Nazi because young men left Canada, travelled thousands of miles, first by train, then by boat to defeat the advancing armies of Hiltler.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he Birger Rasmussen family are members of our community today because of the sacrifices of previous generations. Birger said; 'We are so thankful that the Allies came to deliver us from our enemy!'鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 MacNaughton stated that those who sacrificed their lives did so for: 鈥淔reedom from oppression; freedom of speech, even the right of criticism; freedom of assembly; freedom of religion, whatever your choice, and freedom of movement across our country 鈥� locally and inter-provincially.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 听鈥淓ach name inscribed on those brass plates represents a young man and his unfulfilled dreams,鈥� said MacNaughton.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e remember them.鈥� 听
