OLEARY –
To Keith Stetson, Sergeant-at-Arms for O’Leary Legion Branch 2, the number of people attending the Legion’s annual Remembrance Day service just seems to grow bigger every year.
All seats were filled for Saturday’s service and an overflow crowd lined three walls of the legion hall.
“It means the message is getting out,” he said of the spirit of remembrance that floods through the legion hall every year. “It starts in the schools, and it comes right from the school up.”
Dozens of wreaths and crosses were laid on a stage in honour of all who served and in remembrance of those who paid the supreme sacrifice for freedom
A large cross marked with the message, ‘Lest We Forget,’ took center stage, and two members of West Prince 641 Air Cadet squadron carefully arranged the wreaths and crosses after each presented placed the at the front of the stage.
The Legion branch’s last remaining World War Two veteran, Therin Ellis, laid the first wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada.
While the crowd was large for the service, Sergeant-at-Arms Stetson acknowledged the number of members on parade is growing smaller. He was one of eight people on parade this year. He expressed hope that more veterans of recent conflicts, including Afghanistan and the Gulf Wars will join the legion.
Prior to the indoor service at the legion home, an outdoor service was held at the cenotaph in West Point. A Remembrance Day banquet, with West Prince Zone Commander Robert Gaudet as guest speaker, was held in the afternoon.
