This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Owen Sound drew a large crowd to remember the fallen.
The event began around 11 a.m. this morning with a march starting at the Royal Bank before passing the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market and ending at the cenotaph.
Veterans, service members, local dignitaries, emergency services, various organizations, and over 100 residents gathered for the Owen Sound Legion organized event.
Retired Coast Guard Lieutenant Gerry Martell who was in attendance says he thought it was wonderful to see such a large crowd in attendance.
“I have never seen a crowd this big and it’s just absolutely amazing and I certainly hope we never lose sight of this,” says Martell.
The event featured the singing of the national anthem, the playing of the Last Post, moments of silence, prayers, and the laying of wreaths.
Owen Sound Legion President Ed Yates says he thought the ceremony went very well.
“Fortunately, post-Covid we are starting bounce back a bit and there seems to be a lot more interest from the public. On a Saturday that’s a great turn out,” says Yates. “Given the situation of the way things are happening in the world today it does generate more attention to military and the families and what people have to go through.”
Yates adds there is an important message people should take away from today’s service.
“No matter how far in the past it goes, we have had people who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country then, now and will continue to in the future,” says Yates.
Meanwhile, in Tara as in many communities throughout Grey Bruce Saturday, the community gathered to observe the day.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Alex Ruff, was among those who laid wreaths at the cenotaph. Also in attendance this year, was a large group of service members from the Canadian Forces 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford.
Ruff, who is a retired infantry Colonel, served for over 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.
He says his hope is that people will take time to remember those who have served, saying, “I just want them to think about all those that put an uniform on, and that have served Canada whether in the past or currently— or maybe some day in the future. That we owe our freedoms, our democracy to those that are willing to potentially make the supreme sacrifice. Today is a chance to especially remember those that have made the supreme sacrifice for Canada. That’s the least we can do, is we can remember them.”
Major Stewart King, is the commanding officer of B Company at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford. He says their participation in the Tara ceremony was an opportunity to support Canadians, noting, “We strive whenever possible to send involvement to local communities in recognition of our fallen soldiers, Especially on Remembrance Day.”
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