Everyone remembers: Abbotsford pays respect to the men and women in uniform
By Simon Grant
On a very windy Tuesday roughly four hundred people attended Abbotsford’s Remembrance Day memorial ceremony at Thunderbird Memorial Square. 2014 marks the centennial since the war to end all wars began.
“More than 2.3 million Canadians have served the cause of freedom in the South African War, First World War, Second World War, Korean War,” said Canada Legion Branch #15 Chaplain Arthur Turnbull during his address. Thousands also served as UN Peacekeepers to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Cyprus, to fight on behalf of Canada and to keep the peace on behalf of the United Nations.
The Pacific Mennonite Girls Choir sang hymns for the crowd before the ceremony commenced. Within the congregation, countless veterans and uniformed civil servants wore their decorations and poppies with pride. Some wore UN Blue Berets; others wore peaked caps and wedges denoting their many different fields of service. Many veterans had a special place reserved near the cenotaph.
A wide array of uniforms marched onto the square led by the 861 Silverfox RCACS band. Among them, members of the Canadian Legion Branch 15 and Branch 15 Ladies Auxiliary Corps, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Abbotsford Police, Abbotsford Fire Rescue, Royal Canadian Air Cadets 861 Silverfox Squadron, 39 Brigade Royal Westminster Regiment, 2nd Abbotsford Scouts, Girl Guides, and the Knights of Columbus.
Royal Westminster Regiment, part of 39 Brigade
photo: City of Abbotsford
Royal Canadian Air Cadets 861 (Silverfox) Squadron Band
photo: City of Abbotsford
The Mennonites Girls Choir led the ceremony in singing the National Anthem and then sang a lyrical rendition of Remembrance Day’s ubiquitous poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
A brief reminder of why so many endured the cold wind to stand behind the veteran men and women was said by the Master of Ceremonies, Arthur Turnbull who then called the bugler, 861 Silverfox’s Flight Sergeant Garfius, for Last Post and then a minute of silence. The bugler then played the Rouse, formerly known as Reveille, followed by the Lament (Flowers of the Forest) piped by Keiran Backo of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. This was followed by three succinct cracks of the Abbotsford Police Department’s Rifle Salute.
Special mention was made to Corporal Nathan Cirillo who was murdered while on duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, also murdered, and Private Stephen Allen, killed in a training accident last week.
Master Corporal Colin Bason’s family laid a wreath for Colin Bason, killed while on duty in Afghanistan in 2007, and for all families who lost children due to war.
All members from all rungs of society laid wreaths to show their respect to the fallen. Canadian leaders, Member of Parliament Ed Fast, Member of Legislative Assembly Michael De Jong, and Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman laid wreaths on behalf of Canadians at all levels of government.
Wreaths from 39 Brigade Royal Westminster Regiment, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 15 and Branch 15 Ladies Auxiliary, Army Navy and Air Veterans, Canadian Merchant Marines and Coastguard Veterans, Canadian Korean War Veterans, 861 Silverfox Squadron, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Border Services, Corrections Canada, BC Sheriffs, Abbotsford Police Department, Abbotsford Fire Rescue were also laid.
Civilian organizations also laid before a closing prayer and God Save the Queen. After the parade dismissed, and as a final act, many civilians laid their poppy pins on the cenotaph following the memorial service.
Cenotaph with Poppies
photo: PW Slade