Virden’s Remembrance Day commemorations last Saturday were marked by several notable firsts.
With the mild weather, the procession from the Legion to the Aud took a longer route this year. First responders in dress uniform, veterans, legion members and cadets walked down Eighth Ave. to Nelson St. as far as the lights, turned south on Seventh Ave. and west onto Wellington St. where they entered the Aud Theatre.
Virden’s historic opera house, constructed as the First World War was looming in Europe, was full almost to capacity. All eyes were on the cenotaph at centre stage lit by a single spotlight.
Padre’s first
Fr. Matt Koovisk of St. Mary’s Anglican Church is Padre for Legion Branch 8. It was his first time officiating a Remembrance Day service, but he emceed the proceedings with warmth and confidence.
“It’s easy for us, 100 years later, to shove events such as the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele into a book, put it on a shelf and forget about it.
“We’re gathered here today not to glorify war, but to remember the sacrifices that so many made throughout the world wars, the peacekeepers and those who still serve on bases throughout the world.”
Cadets remember Vimy
Two female cadets from the XII Manitoba Dragoons were guest speakers at the service: Cpl. Kayla Rousson and Sgt. Ceilidh Brockman shared observations from their trip to Vimy, France earlier this year.
Brockman described to the hushed audience a particularly poignant moment she experienced in a French war cemetery.
“Of the thousands of graves there, two stood out for me, side by side. The graves of a father and son.
“I honestly didn’t want to believe that someone so young would have to fight alongside their dad. And what was running through their minds worrying about each other day and night?”
“The trip put a lot of things into perspective for me,” Brockman concluded.
After the cadets’ presentations, Padre Koovisk said, “It’s absolutely wonderful to see young people interact with our history this way.”
The VCI Concert Band under the direction of Janet Yochim provided the music for the service, including the recessional as firefighters and Mounties led the audience out into a quiet, peaceful Saturday morning.
