History Made as Last Remembrance Day
Organized by Legion Observed Here
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War veterans were deep in thought as the last service in Provost hosted by the Provost Branch No. 85 of the Royal Canadian Legion took place on Thursday morning, November 11. Story in this week's paper, more pictures inside. ©Provost News Photos. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.
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The last Remembrance Day service organized by the Provost Branch No. 85 of the Royal Canadian Legion was held at the Provost Recreation and Culture Centre hall in Provost on Thursday morning, November 11 as the community paid respects and gave thanks to the men and women who fought in Canada’s wars and conflicts.
Piper Tom Ward brought in Legion members and special guests to begin the service.
After O Canada was sung Pastor Les Giesbrecht gave a prayer and a scripture reading from the Bible was made.
The Lord’s My Shepherd was sung by the congregation followed by Darlene Currie who also gave a reading.
A reading on behalf of the Provost Legion was made by Pastor Andy Wiebe who read a letter passed on to him, penned years ago by a young man who later lost his life. Now famous, this particular letter first ran anonymously in a British newspaper. It was from a young man to his beloved mother—he was still too young to have any other sweetheart. As so many did, the airman wrote a note which was to be read only upon his death. Sadly, his plane was indeed shot down and his final words hit home for millions of young men and their families. First, he comforts her. This young man who realizes that if his mother is reading his letter it will be the last chance he has to speak to her, comforts she who will miss him most. He speaks of her sacrifice in sending her only son, whom she has protected, loved, raised and supported, to war. He asks her to believe that his death would not mean her struggle would have been in vain. "Far from it," he writes. "It means that your sacrifice has been as great as mine."
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Weibe continued: "Today we are faced with the greatest organized challenge to civilization that the world has ever seen, and I count myself lucky and honoured to be the right age and fully trained to throw my weight into the scale. For this I have to thank you.” (And, if you are reading this letter then you know that) “I shall have done my duty to the utmost of my ability. No man can do more, and no one calling himself a man could do less. You must not grieve for me . . . I am prepared to die with just one regret, and one only—that I could not devote myself to making your declining years more happy by being with you; but you will live in peace and freedom and I shall have directly contributed to that, so my life will not have been in vain.”
Legion president Cal Fulmore in his opening remarks pointed out that this service was the last one that the local Legion branch would be hosting and he gave thanks to people who supported the Remembrance Day services so much here over the years. He also commended Irene Johnstone for her work gathering war material and also Rich Holmes who with The Provost News staff created a special newspaper section featuring local veterans.
The Last Post was played followed by two minutes of silence and the reading of names by Fulmore and Wiebe respectively of those from the district who gave their lives in World War I and II. War I: 1914 - 1918: H. Adams, M. Anderson, W. Beatson, L. Bethune, S. Burge, J. Cagney, A. Creighton, C. Curtis, D. Edgar, C. Haughen, W. Irwin, M. R. Keffler, J. Leitheiser, K. Massey, P. B. Portway, W. Purdy, S. Smith, H. Stubbs, R. Tinsley, J. W. Watson, F. A. Weavers, F. Williams, E. Whittle and C. Wren. WWII: 1939 - 1945: Beverley Agar, August Bernard, Wilbert Bevan, Dale Butler, Alvin Broemeling, Ora Hall, Carl Kjos, Paul Larson, Conrad Martens, Rogers Pick, Jacob Rehman, Kenneth Rud, Gordon Shand, Curtis Smith, Ole Wyett Swanson and Fred Wittmack.
Rest of story in November 17 edition of The Provost News.
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