Tears and bittersweet smiles reflected on many of the thousands of faces during Remembrance Day ceremonies at Âé¶čAVâs City Park on Nov. 11.
With dark clouds threatening a downpour at any moment, crowds lined downtown streets as the Colour Party from Royal Canadian Legion Âé¶čAV Branch #26 led the parade in and at exactly 11 a.m., the park - and the entire city it seemed - fell silent.
Veterans stood at attention, each carrying memories of their time in conflict, and fallen comrades. For those in the crowd who had not known the horrors of war, their tears may have been for parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles who never came home. Others perhaps wept in gratitude, thankful to have their loved ones still with them.
âWe will never forget them,â said Âé¶čAV Legion President Jim White following the ceremony.
During the invocation, Reverend David Ryttersgaard noted the sky and asked that the rain stay away. There was a brief moment when the wind picked up and large drops fell, but the rain stayed away.
The thousands at City Park were prepared, just in case. White said the crowds seem to get larger every year and was grateful to see so many young faces.
âWe had a good turnout with the Field of Crosses as well, all the young kids coming through there,â he said. âTheyâre amazed to see that these guys were barely out of school, only 19 or 20 years old.â
âO Canada" was sung, and the Last Post, Lament, and Reveille were played. The Act of Remembrance and "In Flanders Fields" were read, official wreaths were laid, and the rain stayed away.
Following the ceremony, throngs of people laid their wreaths or poppies at the base of the Cenotaph. Ken Hutchinson accompanied his young sons, Kaden and Carter, to honour their great-grandfather, a sergeant in the Second World War.
âItâs important to remember him,â Kaden said
âWe like to remember the soldiers that fought for us so that we could have peace,â Carter added.
It was a thought perhaps shared by others as they applauded the veterans that marched out of City Park with the Colour Party following the ceremony.
Teaching the importance of Remembrance Day to young people was emphasized by Regional District Central Okanagan Chair Blair Ireland.
âThis is all about learning what happened and how to avoid it in the future. You worry that youâre going to lose that, but today is an example that weâre not losing it,â he said.
Mayor Tom Dyas noted the tremendous turnout by the community and the significance of the day.
âRespect for all those who have served in the past,â he said. âThe reading of 'In Flanders Fields' with the music in the background⊠it had a lot of emotion attached to it. It was a wonderful turnout.â
The rain did come eventually, but by then, the memories had been honoured, and the sacrifices remembered.
