More than 1,300 people up and down the Sunshine Coast attended Remembrance Day services Wednesday at ceremonies in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt and Pender Harbour.
The Sechelt service was the largest, drawing an estimated 500 people who congregated at the cenotaph under sunny skies with a massive Canadian flag hanging as a backdrop on Cowrie Street.
After Last Post was played and two minutes of silence observed at 11 a.m., Rev. Ian Nestegaard Paul led a prayer of remembrance.
“As we remember this day and honour those who gave the supreme sacrifice in defence of our freedoms and peace, let us remember what it was they fought for, and let us not forget that innocence and truth die on both sides of a line of battle,” Nestegaard Paul said.
Dozens paid their respects by laying wreaths at the cenotaph, and Sechelt Legion president Kay Metcalfe and Legion member Trevor Birch placed poppies for all of the service men and women who passed away during the last year in Sechelt.
Well over 300 people attended the service in Gibsons at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109. Veteran Lilie Eidet placed the Silver Cross Mother wreath at the cenotaph to represent mothers everywhere who have lost their children at war.
Another memorable moment came when a message from the Netherlands was read out. The Dutch man who wrote it said, “As a boy I remember liberation. As Netherlanders we will never forget.”
In Roberts Creek, close to 200 people gathered on the lawns outside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 219. Sergeant-at-arms RCMP Const. Harrison Mohr led the flag-bearing colour guard. Legion president Diane McIntosh reminded the crowd to “not take for granted the peaceful country we live in,” and Rev. Mark Lemon offered prayer.
A plane from Canadian Forces Base Comox broke the stillness with a fly-by at 11:11 to mark the occasion. Little folks from the Roberts Creek Scouts and Guides barely contained their excitement as they placed white crosses in the garden along with the wreaths.
About 300 people in Pender Harbour attended the Nov. 11 service outside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112.
Master of ceremonies Alan Stewart officiated, the Pender Harbour Secondary School band performed O Canada and God Save the Queen, Jordan Haines recited In Flanders Fields and Chaplain Andrew Barker gave the Veteran’s Prayer.
– With files from Christine Wood, Jan DeGrass, Heather Till and Jacob Roberts
