It has been so long since I have put anything into my blog, but I do wonder if anyone does take the time to read any of my drivel?
The last I put up was some information about Syria along with some photos that I had taken while I was stationed there with Foreign Affairs. It really is a shame what is happening there and so many different people and countries to lay the blame on.
The last I put up was some information about Syria along with some photos that I had taken while I was stationed there with Foreign Affairs. It really is a shame what is happening there and so many different people and countries to lay the blame on.
I have just returned from a very quiet yet poignant Remembrance Day service at my old navy training base, HMCS Gloucester. With the advent of Forces amalgamation in February 1968 and to centralize communications training the base was closed in 1972 and training moved to the ‘former’ Army base in Kingston, Ontario, CFB Kingston. The only remaining building, of a once bustling establishment, is the old gymnasium which is now the Greely Legion.
In 2005 a cairn was erected and dedicated to all that worked, trained and served at HMCS Gloucester. In previous years the Remembrance ceremony had been conducted in front of the cairn. There is also a remembrance service at the annual, June, Old Timers reunion at which time the names of those who have passed in since the last reunion are read.
Like the last two years the ceremony was held inside where all attendees were able to sit. Two years ago the weather was a mix of rain and snow and the organizers decided rather than have the participants ‘march’ from the Legion building to the cenotaph they would quickly assembly chairs inside. This now seems to be the norm as last year the weather was bright and sunny although this year the forecast was for intermittent showers. Even with no rain the indoor commemoration is still as moving as an outdoor one would have been.
The Legion organizers had set up a stage from which the Master of Ceremonies directed the service. As well a cross had been erected in front of the dais and the “official wreaths’ had already been placed around it.
The Legion organizers had set up a stage from which the Master of Ceremonies directed the service. As well a cross had been erected in front of the dais and the “official wreaths’ had already been placed around it.
Photo by Gary Springer
The service itself was short but very solemn as the official wreaths had already been placed and the participants were invited to deposit their poppies at the base of the cross. After the Marching Off of the Colours everyone was invited into the main hall where the bar was open and tea, coffee, sandwiches, salad, meat balls and desserts were offered.
As the Legion is well out into the country and not accessible by public transportation it was good to see that it was well attended by military men and women in uniform as well as former members sporting various medals. Other civilians also attended the ceremony.
During all of the Remembrance Day messages that are passed around at this time of year one must reflect back on the absolute carnage that was dispensed on all sides during World War 1 and World War 2. Even more so during WWI when men were forced out of the trenches to rush headlong into oncoming machine-gun fire. One only has to look at the statistics of those killed, missing or wounded from all sides to see the devastating effects these two wars had. Then there have been the wars which followed and are continuing as well as Canada’s involvement in various Peace Keeping Missions.
As the Legion is well out into the country and not accessible by public transportation it was good to see that it was well attended by military men and women in uniform as well as former members sporting various medals. Other civilians also attended the ceremony.
During all of the Remembrance Day messages that are passed around at this time of year one must reflect back on the absolute carnage that was dispensed on all sides during World War 1 and World War 2. Even more so during WWI when men were forced out of the trenches to rush headlong into oncoming machine-gun fire. One only has to look at the statistics of those killed, missing or wounded from all sides to see the devastating effects these two wars had. Then there have been the wars which followed and are continuing as well as Canada’s involvement in various Peace Keeping Missions.
RSS Feed
