“Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields.”
On November 11, just moments after 11:00 a.m. Scott Holloway, Chaplain of the Kindersley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (#57), quoted the above phrase into the stillness of the room. The words from Lt Col John McCrae’s poem, Flanders Fields, still echo the love, courage, pain, and agony of over 100 years of military service from the town of Kindersley.
The annual remembrance ceremony started with a march from the Kindersley Legion Hall on 2nd Ave to the Brethren in Christ Church (BIC) on Main Street. Leading the procession was a riderless horse, dressed as light cavalry horse with empty boots reversed in the stirrups, symbolizing fallen soldiers. Following the horse was a member of the Kindersley RCMP, and representatives from the Town of Kindersley, the Cadets, the Fire Department, the EMS team and a few citizens.
The march ended in a non-denominational service of remembrance in the BIC, where members of the community and legion paid their respects to the fallen and living veterans of Kindersley. Chaplain Holloway officiated at the service, and members from the Kindersley Composite School Band provided accompaniment for the national anthems. Kindersley Community Choir sang “Hand in Hand” as part of the ceremony.
The front of the church was soon covered by wreaths as community groups and members laid wreaths; some for husbands and fathers, others for veterans in general. Pauline Ament was the Silver Cross Mother, and Herb Strut, veteran from WWII, laid a wreath for living veterans.
“For most of us, war is only something we hear of, and remember in ceremonies like this one,” said Chaplain Holloway. “We have our veterans to thank for that.” Chaplain Holloway went on to note that in the following generations, it is our duty to keep their memory alive and to never take for granted our families, or the freedoms we enjoy in our community and country. The words of Lt. Col. McCrae ring out their final cry:
“To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Fields.”
Feature Image Source: Mallorie Rast/Kindersley Social
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