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News Advertiser
www.NewsAdvertiser.com
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
Town of Mundare Hosts Remembrance Day Service Michelle Pinon News Advertiser A crowd of around 20 people gathered at the cenotaph in Mundare to observe Remembrance Day on November 11. One of those people was Leanne Bisson who said she would be mostly thinking of her great grandfather and her grandfather who both served in the war. “It’s been passed down through the family, even a bayonet from world War 1 with their initials carved into it. So, it’s something pretty spectacular that stays in the family.” Unfortunately, she did not get to meet them as they passed away before she was born. Shortly before 11 am Mayor Mike Saric addressed the crowd, stating, “We debated whether or not to have a collective ceremony today, but decided that in fact this is an important enough occasion of Remembrance to do this. So thank you all for coming. We’re sorry that we couldn’t have had a more normal ceremony but we hope this will at least suffice for today.” The service began with the singing of O’Canada followed by the Last Post, Two Minutes of Silence, and Reveille. Colin Zyla, Chief Administrative Officer for the
Town of Mundare, read a message from Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs who was unable to attend the service. “This Remembrance Day will be unlike anything we’ve experienced before. It will be the first time in a century there will not be a large traditional parade of Remembrance. This year Canadians will remember veterans and those serving in different ways. And even without traditional ceremonies taking place Canadians will mark Remembrance Day in a different way but with the same eternal spirit represented by traditional ceremonies. MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk stated, “As the proud and grateful granddaughter of a World War 1 Veteran, (Walter St. George-Armstrong) and a daughter of a World War II Reserve Force Veteran, (John Ewing-Armstrong) our family knows firsthand the sacrifices they made overseas as well as the sacrifices the families who were left behind had to make. Thanks once again to our honoured veterans who have served and protected Canada, Canadians, and our treasured freedoms from falling foe to forces. You fought to bring liberty and freedom to many people over the world and throughout our young history, may God bless you always. Mundare Fire Department Member Matt Onyskow was one of several members in attendance. (Michelle Pinon/Photo)
Zyla stated, “In memory of soldiers who were killed in the performance of their duties. We want to especially recognize those Mundare and Hilliard Natives who lost their lives: Flying Officers E. Kielbaugh, P. Korbyl, J.M. Polomark, L.D. McAllister, Sgt P. Gulevich, Flight Sgt M. Sawry, Warrant Office V. Poloway and Pte. W. Kostiuk. Zyla also read out the names of the various levels of government, organizations, and businesses who sponsored wreaths. Father David McLeod from Chesterton House in Mundare recited the Lord’s Prayer before the closing of the service. Mayor Saric said the town began officially hosting the Remembrance Day Service back in 2003-2004. He said the reason it was so important to keep the tradition and hold the service this year he said, “Although we have Covid that we’re dealing with we felt it was really important for the community to be able to come together and honour the people that have fought and died for us over all the years to keep the freedoms that we have today. And it gives our community an opportunity to actually get together when things are so restricted right now.”
