KAMSACK — Kamsack and area residents came together to commemorate Remembrance Day, honouring the sacrifices made by veterans who served in conflicts old and new.
The ceremony, held at Victoria School, featured speeches, prayers, and a wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute to those who bravely served their country.
The program began with the March of the Colours led by piper Kerri Lyndsay.
The program included moments of reflection, such as a call to sing O Canada and a period of silent remembrance. Reverend Stephen Ruten recited the names of individuals who served in
The First World War, The Second World War, the Korean War, and subsequent conflicts during an Honour Roll. The list included members of the Cote First Nation and other communities, emphasizing the diverse contributions of individuals who served.
The Last Post followed the Honour Roll, with Kira Salahub as its bugler, after which a two-minute moment of silence was held, followed by the playing of Reveille.
The assembly featured scripture readings from various individuals including Reverend Stephen Ruten and Ryan Sawchuk, expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of past generations.
A significant part of the ceremony involved the laying of wreaths by representatives from various organizations, including the local town council, the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute, Victoria School, The RCMP, and a large assortment of community groups. Some of the wreaths were laid in honour of past veterans who were from the Kamsack area.
A homily was held with Reverend Nancy Brunt.
“This day we honour those who served and died and those who served and came home forever changed. Our world is full of darkness and sin. Our leaders sometimes make decisions that don't make sense to us as Christians. They don't trust God. We must not allow despair to overwhelm us. We are to live in the light of God's presence. He is the deliverer, the ultimate agent at work in the world.
“Our reading from Romans tells us that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. God's light brings life, clarity, and safety. It drives away gloom and brings hope. The deeper the darkness, the brighter the light. If you light a match in a deep cave, it is a torch. Those who live in darkness receive the shining light of Christ.
“So much of our world suffers from war, violence, terrorism, oppression, and the like, while we enjoy freedom, choice, comfort, a legal system that protects our rights, a social welfare system that ensures a basic standard of living. All as a result of the peace in which we live.
“As the eyes of the world turn towards the war in Israel and Gaza, the continued war in Ukraine, the first and best thing we can do is fall to our knees in prayer. As we watch war unfold in Israel and Ukraine, we ask for your grace and peace to rule in the hearts and minds of all involved. We ask that the people of Israel, Gaza and Ukraine may be safe, secure, and that they would know not only peace on earth, but your true and unwavering peace.
“The peace we have isn't just an external peace. It's also an internal peace, a peace of mind, a confidence in the future. Nothing can separate us from God's love. We continue to pray for peace in this world, that we can learn to love our neighbours as ourselves as Jesus taught us. In peace let us thank and remember those who served. Today we remember that there is nothing glorious about war other than when it is over. Today we remember those from us and those among us who pursued hope and faced fears and carried its scar that we might live as we are, even to the freedom of this Remembrance Day service.”
The homily was followed by the closing prayer and the singing of God Save The King.
The ceremony closed with the march off of the colours.
After the service, those in attendance were asked to remove their poppies and leave them on a cross before departing.
