The Remembrance Day service held Nov. 11 in the Meota Community Complex was most interesting and informative.
Mayor John MacDonald welcomed everybody and the Meota Lions Chorus led the singing of O Canada. Karl Caslor gave the opening prayer. Robert Zurowski was the chairperson for the program and he read John McCrae鈥檚 poem, In Flanders Fields.
Dignitaries who laid wreaths on the memorial were John MacDonald for the Village of Meota, Wilbert Fennig for the RM of Meota, Carmon Menssa for the Resort Village of Metinota and Vi Cardinal for the Province of Saskatchewan. This memorial has the names of 12 soldiers from the First World War and eight from the Second World War.
This was followed by Taps, a military salute to fallen soldiers and two minutes of silence. Robert Zurowski read the poem, They Survived, which tells of the trials and tribulations the veterans, who did return, went through adjusting after being at war. There are 76 names on the plaque in the hallway in the community hall with names of local area fellows who came home.
The Meota Chorus led the singing of many of the old 鈥渨artime songs,鈥� which brought back a lot of memories, too.
Rob Fegan told the story of his 25 years spent in the military, in the Croatia area mostly. This is located across the Adriatic Sea from northern Italy, between Hungary and Serbia. He was dressed in his uniform and looked right fine. He explained his many medals to a few folks.
John MacDonald read some of the story behind the poem, In Flanders Fields, and the origin of the poppy being a symbol of the sacrifice men and women made. The chorus led more singing and Karl Caslor said grace before the crowd dispersed and got ready to enjoy the tasty meal set out by Pearl Hawkins and her crew of volunteers.
Research shows John McCrae was a doctor and insisted on sleeping in tents like the soldiers did, rather than in the officers鈥� huts. He died of pneumonia before the war was over. He told his mother in a letter about himself and his platoon going 17 days without taking their clothes or boots off.
