A large crowd attended today's Remembrance Day service in Goderich (photo - Bob Montgomery)A large crowd attended today's Remembrance Day service in Goderich (photo - Bob Montgomery)
Midwestern

Midwestern Ontario Marks Remembrance Day

Like communities across all of midwestern Ontario, and the rest of Canada, residents of Hanover, Goderich and Mount Forest and Port Elgin marked Remembrance Day.

Scores of people gathered for at the Hanover cenotaph this morning; scouts, brownies, school children, air cadets, and of course veterans. Those from the Second World War are fewer in number every year.

The words on the cenotaph expressing the feeling of those present: "To commemorate the sacrifice of our honoured dead."

With the playing of the last post, two minutes of silence, Hanover remembered its honoured dead.

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The President of Branch 109 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Goderich calls today's Remembrance Day Ceremony significant for a number of reasons.

Paul Thorne points out that aside from the attacks in Ottawa and south of Montreal last month, this year is the 100th anniversary of the First World War and 75th anniversary of the Second World War.

He adds while the recent incidents have had a galvanizing effect on Canadians, it's disturbing that so long after two world wars Canadians are still losing their lives defending out freedom.

Thorne also points out the importance of every Remembrance Day ceremony that only takes part of one day to remember the sacrifices of all of those who served.

A record crowd turned out for the Remembrance Day Ceremony in Mount Forest.

Master of Ceremonies Bill Nelson was particularly pleased at the number of students present as well as local residents.

Jenna Yake, wearing the uniform of her late grandfather Earl Nelson, read the roll call.

Several hundred people joined veterans at the Port Elgin cenotaph this morning to pay tribute to those who died defending our freedom.

Among those paying their respects was Grant Grieve, who volunteered for duty in the Second World War.

Grieve says he was in training when Germany surrendered to end the war in Europe, adding he was then supposed to be shipped out fight the Japanese, but did not end up being deployed.

Grieve says today is about remembering his friends and fellow soldiers who did not come home after the war.

"You remember a lot of the fellas that you knew as kids and that, joined up and never came back," says Grieve.

Grieve was joined at the Remembrance Day ceremony by his son, Major Kevin Grieve, who today serves in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

With files from Bob Montgomery, Campbell Cork & Jordan McKinnon

Colour guard leads the parade into the Port Elgin Cenotaph. (Photo - Jordan MacKinnon)Colour guard leads the parade into the Port Elgin Cenotaph. (Photo - Jordan MacKinnon)

Saugeen Shores Police Chief Dan Rivett [left] salutes with his son,
Captain Tom Rivett after laying wreaths. (Photo-Jordan MacKinnon)Saugeen Shores Police Chief Dan Rivett [left] salutes with his son, Captain Tom Rivett after laying wreaths. (Photo-Jordan MacKinnon)

Port Elgin's veterans march. (Photo-Jordan MacKinnon)Port Elgin's veterans march. (Photo-Jordan MacKinnon)

Mount Forest - Jenna Yake in her grandfather's uniform. (photo - Campbell Cork)Mount Forest - Jenna Yake in her grandfather's uniform. (photo - Campbell Cork)

Mount Forest Cenotaph - Remembrance Day (photo Campbell Cork)Mount Forest Cenotaph - Remembrance Day (photo Campbell Cork)

Goderich Remembrance Day 2014Goderich Remembrance Day 2014

Goderich Remembrance Day 2014Goderich Remembrance Day 2014

Crowds gather at the Goderich Square Cenotaph. (photo - Bob Montgomery)Crowds gather at the Goderich Square Cenotaph. (photo - Bob Montgomery)

Chatsworth Remembrance Day 2014.  Photo by: Mike WildeboerChatsworth Remembrance Day 2014. Photo by: Mike Wildeboer

 

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