Hundreds of people gather at Melfort & Unit Comprehensive Collegiate (MUCC) for a Remembrance Day ceremony (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Lest We Forget

Northeast communities honour Remembrance Day

Nov 11, 2022 | 6:29 PM

A handful of local communities gathered in their respective towns and cities today, Nov. 11, to honour and remember those who have fought and continue to fight every day for the great country we all have the privilege of living in.

One of these communities is Melfort, where a wide variety of citizens showed up at the Melfort & Unit Comprehensive College (MUCC) and participated in a Remembrance Day ceremony, put on by the Melfort Legion.

This marked the first time since 2019 that the Legion was able to hold this ceremony in person and share it with the public, face to face instead of virtually.

“It’s really special for members of the Legion that they can do more to involve the community and get in touch with the community, about the things that are important to us. The past couple of years we didn’t get the kind of feel that we like to have with the public and make sure that we’re able to spread our message properly,” said Legion President, Comrade Jim Graham.

“Certainly in a forum like this, where you see this wonderful crowd and all the youth from the community, it allows us to help them recognize the challenges that the country faces, and therefore, the fact that we’re going to make more veterans, and that we have a lot of responsibility of caring for them over time.”

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The service included names of the fallen soldiers, a moment of silence, a deposit of colours, reflection, a video, laying of wreaths and other traditional speeches and remarks.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

With all those who were involved in the service, outside of the Legion, Graham explained it adds another element.

“From my perspective, standing up at the podium and looking down into people’s eyes and recognizing the size of the crowd is heartening. It makes you feel everything that you’re doing is worthwhile.”

And there certainly were a lot of others who took an extra part in the service, as a total of 39 different groups each laid a wreath to pay their respects.

(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

“It gives one’s heart a real rush to understand the pride that people have taken in ceremonies and that they’re we’re honouring veterans, it means that they haven’t been forgotten. Having them do that is really something special because we’re not a big community, but we’re a community that’s very responsible, and have big hearts.”

As Remembrance Day has now been reached, it marks the end of the poppy campaign.

All the money that was donated through the campaign, allows the Legion to fund a variety of different things throughout the community.

This includes Upkeep of the Cenotaph, Aid for Veterans in need, $3,000 to the Melfort Air Cadets, $1,500 to the North Central Health Care Foundation, the Regional Dialysis Unit in Tisdale, and the Legion Place, $1,000 to Parkland Place, the School Poem and Poster Contests, Student Bursaries, the Green Tree House, and the Melfort Group Home, and finally, $500 to the R.C.E.L Fund.

Meanwhile, the Towns of Nipawin and Tisdale, as well as the City of Humboldt, also participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies.

The Nipawin Legion held their annual service at the Nipawin Evergreen Centre, with a collections plate having been available for those interested in donating to the poppy campaign.

The Town of Tisdale held a service at the RecPlex, along with a potluck dinner and tribute held at their local legion hut.

And, the Humboldt Legion honoured veterans with a gathering at St. Augustine Church, where they paraded into the church. Following that, the last post took place with two minutes of silence and Reveille.

Afterward, there was a social in the Clubroom along with Museum Tours in the Legion. While the tours took place, there was live music by Shades of Blue & Friends. Ending it off was a supper at the Legion Hall.

Lest We Forget

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8