Celebrating 100 years since WW1 and honouring those who risked everything to give their country a future of freedom

 

The First World War began on August 4, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918. The war took the lives of 60,661 Canadians and another 172,000 were wounded making it the bloodiest conflict in the country’s history. At the time, Canada’s population was only eight million and 630,000 men and women served in the war. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the conflict.

On the morning of Sunday, November 11, Whitecourt service men and women, visiting armed forces members, first responders, and residents gathered at Central School for the Remembrance Day ceremony. Arrivals after 10:30 a.m. were left with standing room only as the space filled up very quickly.

Cmrd. Tom Pickard served as the MC and began the ceremony with the March on the Colours followed by the singing of O Canada. Music was provided by the Whitecourt Community Choir, pianist Diane Ferguson, trumpeter Isaiah Matson, and piper Cadet Sgt. Vandermeer. Following the opening prayer by Wayne Golding, Cmrd. Pickard read the 2017 1st prize Legion Poster/Literacy Contest winner, Kaycie Turcotte’s poem, Why I Fight.

“I’m doing this for them because I love them. My family is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m shaking from head to toe in fear of not going home. I am scared, tired, and weak. I can hear a huge bang that rings my ears until I can’t take it anymore. Just because I’m afraid doesn’t mean I’m going to quit. Our freedom matters and that’s worth fighting for,” echoed the words as they lifted off the paper and floated around the hall. The emotion could be seen in the faces of those who have seen conflict or lost loved ones and understood the weight that her words truly carried.

At the front of the gymnasium the air cadets stood on guard, barely moving a muscle throughout the entire ceremony. One by one, members and representatives of various organizations, clubs, and military/government groups brought forward wreaths to lay at the foot of the cross. One of the most breathtaking moments of the ceremony was when a hushed silence descended over the crowd following the Last Post and before the Lament and Rouse. Royal Canadian Legion Branch #44 Service Officer Kyle Scott said that the moment was emotional.

“For me, personally, in an instant I’m back standing on a runway in Kandahar watching comrades be loaded onto planes to go home, never to live another free day. I think for most of us, it is only a millisecond away from being back where you were at any given time. Sights, sounds, and smells take us back and every day is a different adventure like that. On November 11, for me, the moment of silence followed by the Rouse, is generally where I’m in another place.”

He said that getting to talk to the young kids following the ceremony is very important and is something that he looks forward to each year. “They always have a bunch of silly questions but it’s fun for us because we get to see that they care and that they want to know and ask their questions. It’s good that they do that.” He then pointed to the young soldiers in uniform standing in front of him and said it’s fantastic that the young children in attendance get to see them because they are role models. “They’re upstanding people who are choosing to put themselves into a job that is fairly thankless and I’m sure that if you asked any one of them, they would say that they love it. That’s what today is about.”

Reaching 100 years since the end of WW1 is now more important than ever to remember and be aware of the sacrifice that over half a million Canadians made all those years ago by fighting for your right to live free today. Never forget the 60,661 people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for Canada in WW1 and the many who were injured. Members of the Whitecourt Legion including past president Kyle Scott are always eager to share stories and experiences with the younger generations in hopes of keeping history alive.

“It’s about educating and advocating for not only our veterans but also for those who never came home. We want people to talk about them every day and not just on Remembrance Day. If we don’t constantly have these conversations with our children and grandchildren and advise them on how awful war can be, and what these men and women gave up when they went to put an end to some atrocious things that were happening in the world, then we’re not doing them justice. If you have children who are interested and would like to learn a thing or two just get hold of us. We would love to have them here for an afternoon and put together a talk and educate them. It’s all of our duty to bring these people back to life and to never forget the sacrifices they made and continue to make for us all around the world.”