Citizens of Neilburg and Marsden area remembered the sacrifice of the many veterans from this district at the annual community Remembrance Day ceremonies Nov. 11.
The 2012 ceremonies were poignantly personalized as Legion President, Ken Ostensoe, shared about his "Memorial Trip" to the battlefields, concentration camps and cemeteries in Europe earlier this year. As is the custom, the names of the war dead from World Wars One and Two were read aloud. For Ostensoe, however, 17 of these names had become part of his living reality as he was able to visit 16 of the graves and one "in-name-only" memorial to some of the local fallen.
Lost in World War One were Geoffrey Addison, John Ainsley, Archie Bagley, Fred Bickerdyk, Hubert Hill, Jim Kitching, Tommy Kitching, Charlie Robinson, Ernest Robinson, Stephen Robinson, Edward John Sawtell, Thomas Swindell and Charlie Widden. Fallen in World War II were Gibert Brown, Walter "Bud" Brown, Ted Bradley, Gerald Caldwell, Maxwell Cayford, Clifford Christopherson, Silvo David, Varley Hallett, Kenneth Hollingshead, Hans Hein, De Edward Jeffrey, Rene Lablanc, Arther Loyie, Edward Marquardt, Fred McAvany, John Masson, Charles Niven, Mark Paradis, Charles Prongua, Charlie Reid, Leonard Riggs, Dougal Thom and Perry Wilson.
The poem In Flander's Fields was read by Jerry Petovello before the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers was sung. The students in Grades 5 and 6 at Neilburg Composite School sang a special song called Veteran's Day which was set to the tune of Danny Boy. They were directed by Allison Winsor. The Neilburg Composite School Senior Band also sang three selections.
Special guests for the day included two RCMP constables, several personnel from Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and Grant Doolittle, the only local veteran who was able to attend the service. There are five veterans still on the membership roster, however Maurice Lane was unable to attend. The others, Russell Goodfellow, Jim Pattison and George Ford, are residing out of the local area.
Marilyn Ostensoe read out the names of the winners of the Remembrance Day poem, poster and essay competitions. There were 176 entries between Marsden Jubilee School and Neilburg Composite School, so the judges had a difficult time making some of the decisions. The winners' names will be published in a separate article. Legion member Glenn Hegel handed out certificates to each winner as their name was called.
A large number of wreaths were laid in memory of the war dead and the veterans who returned to the community but have more recently left us. Brian and Joan Gibb also laid a wreath in memory of their son-in-law who died in the Afghanistan conflict. Letters from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and from our local Member of Parliament, Gerry Ritz, were also read aloud. At the conclusion of the service, lunch was served to all in attendance.
The Neilburg branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is always pleased to sign up new members as many of those who have been faithful for many years in their service to this organization are aging and unable to do as much as they would like. Contact President Ostensoe or any other Legion member for information on how to join the branch.
