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Estevan pays tribute to those who served their country

Remembrance Day continues to be an important time for people in the Estevan area.

Remembrance Day continues to be an important time for people in the Estevan area.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Estevan Comprehensive School’s gymnasium Monday morning for the annual Remembrance Day service hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch.

Troy LeBlanc, who is the chairperson of this year’s Remembrance Day committee at the legion, was pleased to see such a large crowd at the ceremony.

“I am very pleased with the turnout from the citizens of Estevan, and everything went very well,” LeBlanc told the Mercury.

The ceremony featured its traditional assortment of prayers, music and tributes. Two minutes of silence were observed for those who died while serving Canada in combat. A wreath was laid at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. John McCrae’s timeless poem In Falnders Field was read to the audience.

Legion president Jim (Frosty) Forrest read the Roll of Honour – the list of more than 110 names of people from the Estevan area who died serving their country in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War and the Afghanistan War.

For the second straight year, Capt. Craig Bird, who is the commanding officer of the No. 2901 Estevan Army Cadets and a local military historian, was the guest speaker.

Bird noted that this year marked the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, which was the turning point of the Second World War, as well as the Battle of the Scheldt, which Canadians played a key role in, and the Italian campaign.

“The Italian campaign involved more than 92,000 Canadians who took part in this bitter struggle, from July of 1943 to May of 1945,” said Bird.

Private Harvey Robinson of Estevan took part in the assault on the German forces on the Savio River. Robinson, who was a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, sustained a shrapnel wound after crossing the river, and later died from his injuries at the age of 21.

Bird previously spoke on the Battle of the Scheldt on Nov. 2 at the legion.

He noted that the Second World War started on Sept. 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. The first few years of the war did not go well for the Allied Forces, with the ill-fated Dieppe Raid in 1942.

remembrance day
Daryl Spenst, left, and his father Jim salute after placing a wreath at the cenotaph during the Remembrance Day service.

“Most notable was the losses that Estevan suffered as the South Saskatchewan Regiment, which recruited out of the southeast area … lost many men from this area,” said Bird.

The situation improved in 1943, with gains in North Africa and the Invasion of Sicily.

“We have a colourful military history here in the southeast. We’ve had people in the Boer Wars, World War 1, World War 2, Korea as well as Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping missions that Canada took part in, as well as lots of members that served in the peace time military,” said Bird.

In honour of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and other battles, Bird said they want to remember the men and women who served in the Second World War. There are 41 names on Estevan’s cenotaph of people who served in the Second World War.

The war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945, while the Japanese surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945.

More than 1.1 million people from Canada and Newfoundland served in the Second World War. About 42,000 died and 55,000 were wounded or injured. Canada’s population was about 11 million at the time. Many more served at home to provide for the war effort.

Bird also pointed out that last year marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The legion had hoped to have a multi-media presentation before this year’s ceremony, but that didn’t happen due to a technical issue. The presentation has the photos of people from the Estevan area who served their country.

LeBlanc hopes it can be shown next year.

A cenotaph service was also held in gymnasium. It was an opportunity for local people to lay wreaths in honour of those who served. Representatives of the Canadian Forces, dignitaries, protective services personnel, service group representatives, youth organizations and others placed a wreath during the ceremony.

This marked the second consecutive year in which the Remembrance Day service has been held in the gym. LeBlanc believes it’s a better system to have everything in one area. Previously the service was split between the school’s cafetorium and the courtyard.