The annual Remembrance Day service continues to be an important event for many people in the Estevan area.聽
Hundreds of people filled the Estevan Comprehensive School on Nov. 11 for this year鈥檚 service, which was hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion鈥檚 Estevan branch. Some of the people who attended had to stand at the back of the room, as all of the seats were filled. 聽
President Troy LeBlanc said the Legion is very appreciative that Estevan residents continue to attend the service each year.
He said there has been greater support for the Canadian Forces and for Remembrance Day since October 2014, when Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was killed in Montreal and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed in Ottawa in separate terrorist attacks less than two days apart.聽
鈥淢ore people are coming out,鈥� said LeBlanc. 鈥淭here鈥檚 also been quite a big push at the schools for the students to remember.鈥澛�
Seating in the cafetorium was reduced due to the Estevan Comprehensive School鈥檚 Grease musical, which was performed a couple days after the Remembrance Day service. But LeBlanc said the seating arrangement worked fine.
The service started with the marching in of dignitaries, veterans and Legion members. The Last Post was played, and then the crowd observed two minutes of silence. Reveille followed.
LeBlanc read the Roll of Honour 鈥� the names of Estevan area residents who perished during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean Wars. 聽
Long-time Legion member Ken Clarke read In Flanders Fields. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the famous poem, written by John McCrae about the field where many First World War casualties of war are buried.
Amazing Grace was played on the bag pipes, and a wreath was laid at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.聽
A multi-media presentation featured photos and names of people from the Estevan area who served with the Canadian Forces. While most of them fought in the First and Second World Wars, there were others who served in recent conflicts or in peacekeeping missions.
An offering was taken for disabled war veterans.
The service then shifted to the school鈥檚 courtyard for the cenotaph service. Elected officials, representatives from protective services and military agencies, members of service groups and youth organizations laid wreaths.
Guarding the cenotaph during the ceremony were two members of the Estevan Army Cadets, Lance Cpl. Axel Kulach and Master Cpl. Victoria Glowatski, and two members of the Wylie Mitchell Air Cadets, Flight Sgts. Parker McKelkie and Shawn Bissonnette.
LeBlanc noted poppy sales were also very good this year. Many local businesses had trays with poppies for sale leading up to Remembrance Day. While he doesn鈥檛 have the numbers for Estevan as of yet, he said the numbers look good.聽
Money from the poppy sales will be directed to veterans鈥� causes and other organizations that are regularly accessed by veterans. 聽
