It's still a sombre ceremony, still respectful and still hopeful that some day devastating wars will cease.
That is the overriding theme for Remembrance Day services across Canada and Estevan's version was no different as local citizens filed into the Estevan Comprehensive School's Cafetorium last Thursday morning to pay respect in a dignified fashion to the fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen and women.
A call for peace generally accompanies the tributes to the dead and once again Estevan's Remembrance Day Service co-ordinators, the No. 60 Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, did not disappoint.
A video tribute in the form of individual photos of veterans of the two Great Wars and the Korean conflict and other peacekeeping missions that were flashed on a giant screen in front of the stage captured the attention of those in attendance.
The videos replaced the traditional guest speaker format for the service that was led by emcee Troy LeBlanc and also featured the reading of the honour roll by Estevan Legion president Eileen Rosner who was joined later by Marlene Hayward for the laying of a wreath just behind the eternal flame before past president Ken Clarke read the poem In Flanders Fields which was later replied to by Tija Donovan.
Karissa Gustafson also read a tribute entitled Why We Wear A Poppy in the first half of the two-part program.
The invocation and prayer of exhortation were provided by Rev. Chris Smith while members of the ECS brass ensemble played Last Post, Reveille and offered accompaniment for anthems and hymns.
A wreath laying service in the school's courtyard was the second half of the program and once again LeBlanc and Smith provided the emcee talents and prayers.
The Estevan Legion Colour Party lent an additional flair to the proceedings as they watched over the wreath laying exercises performed by a variety of dignitaries and representatives from service groups and local community organizations.
The two military cadet groups were sentries for the temporary cenotaph that was set up in the ECS courtyard. Master Corporal Wyatt Dunford and Drum Corporal Eric McLean from the PPCLI Army Cadet Corps were joined by LAC Regan MacMurchy and Corporal Jason Mack from the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron for those duties. Master Corporal Jesse Dunford on the bagpipes and Lance Corporaal Radley Kolb from the Army Cadets Pipe and Drum Corps brought in the Colour Party and Jesse Dunford later played Amazing Grace that followed the Act of Remembrance that was read by LeBlanc.
