Without advertising and reminders the community flocks to the Legion Hall in Maidstone Nov. 11.
The order of the service doesn't change much from year to year, remaining a time to reflect and be grateful, a time to recall the names of the fallen with dignity and thanksgiving, a time to listen to the mournful tones of the Last Post and join in the singing of the old hymns.
It is a time when seniors gather to remember and young people come to learn. It is different from any other service bringing the community together.
The laying of the wreathes brings people and groups forward, the reading of John McRae's In Flanders Fields is comforting as are the words of the minister.
This year the prayers and the message were led by Rev. Peter Yeung. He read a passage from 2 Timothy including the words "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Yeung's message was about faithfulness. He defined the word faithful and encouraged the present generation to follow the example of those who served the nation by being faithful as they were faithful.
Yeung was joined at the front by Leah Banks in a duet of the song Find Us Faithful. He also read a poem response to In Flanders Fields called We Shall Keep the Faith.
The service was followed by visiting and lunch, building and strengthening the community in a spirit of honouring and remembering.
