A debt of gratitude

The County pauses to remember those who served

Remembrance Day ceremonies took place in Consecon, Wellington and Picton on Saturday where participants observed two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. to honour those who served in Canada’s armed forces and to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the service of this country. In Picton, Legion Branch 78 president Diane Kennedy read the best known verse from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen:

They 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 will remember them

Padre Brian Nicholson offered a prayer in remembrance of the high price that many have paid to keep the country free, and the hope that their sacrifice was not in vain, concluding with a call for peace on earth. He also read a moving and emotional poem written in 2019 by Joshua Dyer, a then 14- year-old UK student, who wrote it for Remembrance Day. The poem A Thousand Men are Walking speaks to the camaraderie and sacrifice of those who gave their lives. “It’s just an incredible poem, certainly a way we can all remember, and newer generations can remember also,” said Padre Nicholson.

Mayor Steve Ferguson welcomed those who attended the Picton ceremony, including Heather Williams representing Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams, and MPP Todd Smith. “November 11, Remembrance Day, is a day Canadians remember the brave men and women who have served our country in times of war, conflict and peace. It is also a day to think of those who continue to serve our country, particularly as events unfold elsewhere in the world. At 11 a.m. we use the moment of silence to remember those who volunteered, served, fought and died for our freedom. We thank them; we shall always remember them. We owe then an immeasurable debt of gratitude for helping to make our country free and prosperous, and we wear poppies with pride to honour them,” said Mayor Ferguson.

After a bugler played the Last Post, two minutes of silence was observed. Service members and veterans in attendance held a salute during that time, until the bugler played the Rouse, symbolizing a fallen soldier rising above their mortal duties. At this point there was a call for wreaths to be laid at the cenotaph. Heather Williams laid a wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada; MPP Smith laid a wreath on behalf of the Province of Ontario. A number of people laid wreaths in memory of family members, including Cassidy Burrows who laid the Dieppe wreath in memory of her grandfather Russ Burrows. Following the ceremony, Ms. Kennedy extended an invitation for attendees to join Legion members for lunch at Branch 78. She also invited people to visit the Picton United Church where a Remembrance Day exhibit had been set up.