RCL Branch No. 39 Decoration Day Service

RCL Branch No. 39 Decoration Day Service

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 39 held a Decoration Day Service at the Vegreville Riverside Cemetery on June 14.

The service commenced with Rhonda Hayduk, Service Officer for RCL Branch No. 39, welcoming everyone. Rod Stewart, Comrade presented the invocation and prayer.

Following this, Branch President, Comrade Terry Kuzyk said we were there to remember and recognize the service and sacrifice of our family members and friends who survived their military service and have since passed on.

“All battles cause casualties sometimes extremely high casualties and its those personnel we recognize on November 11th. Surrounding you here are some of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen that survived their battles and came home to peace and often to wage an internal conflict because they could not forget what they saw or experienced.

It is often overlooked that while Canada suffered the loss of about 117,000 personnel during wartime another one and a half million survived those wars more than half a million others have served in the military between wars.

However they lived their lives, they became a benchmark for the rest of society. Their experiences and proven abilities were tempered by a crisis that went way beyond anything they experienced for the rest of their lives and anything we will ever know. Those with disabilities formed a measure for the rest of us to recognize sacrifices. It is right and fitting that we should take some time out of our daily routine to stop and pay tribute, however briefly, to the debt we owe them.

All whom we honour here today paid a price for peace that the rest of us will never fully understand we can only take the time to reflect on the suffering and hardships that were endured on our behalf in war and in peace and to say a quiet thank you. Your pretence here today is doing just that whether you are here to honour family or friends or if you recognize that all who served are worthy of the gesture, you are helping to make their sacrifices worthwhile and you are demonstrating a commitment that is needed if we hope ties our great country up to the expectations and high standards set by those Canadians who lie here around our home area and in war cemeteries around the world.”

Hayduk went on to read a speech on behalf of Shannon Stubbs, MP for Lakeland who was unable to be at the service. Stubbs’ address stated that nothing could ever be expressed to show the significance of the sacrifices made by our veterans.

Then Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan/Vegreville said, “Today for this celebration of Decoration Day, we decorate the monumental graves of the brave soldiers with flags and wreaths. We pray that their sacrifices were not in vain and we remember them for the sacrifices they made. Please thank a veteran for the freedom and prosperity of this great country. Together, we will continue to fulfill the promise; we will remember them.”

After this, Tim MacPhee, Mayor of Vegreville said we recognize all the men and women who have served this country and are buried at home. “We will never forget the sacrifices they made in the past.

County of Minburn Reeve, Roger Konieczny went on to say that the veterans gave the ultimate price; their lives so we could have freedom today.

The service continued with the Act of Remembrance, last post, the observance of two minutes of silence, lament, and rouse. Comrade Barry Roth was the piper. The laying of the wreaths followed this. The service closed with a benediction by Comrade Rod Stewart.

Hayduk, who was one of the organizers for the service, said it turned out to be beautiful. “We tried to limit it to 50 people who could attend but on Friday Alberta Relaunch Strategy said we could have 100 people attend.”