Written By Olena Riznyk
MELBOURNE – Residents, local officials and community groups gathered on November 8 for Melbourne’s annual Remembrance Sunday service. The event began at Guthrie Presbyterian Church and continued with a ceremony at the community cenotaph.
The service brought together members of Guthrie Presbyterian Church, New Melbourne United Church and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 510.
Reverend Cordell Parsons led the service, which included prayers, hymns, the lighting of a candle and a moment of silence. Penny Parsons read In Flanders Fields; a poem written by Canadian soldier John McCrae during the First World War.
In his message, Parsons spoke about the cost of war and the importance of remembering those who served. He said that although peace treaties have been signed throughout history, the pain and loss caused by war remain. “The men and women who died for freedom were ordinary people who performed extraordinary tasks,” he said.
Parsons also spoke about his experience working with veterans at a hospital. He used the biblical story of a widow who gave her last two coins to speak about sacrifice. He said her actions showed gratitude and selflessness, qualities he connected with those who gave their lives for freedom.
Parsons said those who fought and died understood self-denial. He linked their sacrifices to the freedom people enjoy and said the gathering was a time to remember and give thanks.
After the church service, the Legion Colour Guard led participants to the cenotaph. The ceremony included prayers, the reading of names of deceased veterans and Legion members, and the laying of wreaths.
Strathroy-Caradoc Mayor Colin Grantham, Southwest Middlesex Deputy Mayor and mayor-elect Michael Sholdice, and deputy mayor-elect Mark McGill were among the local officials at the ceremony.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 510, Korean War veterans, Canadian peacekeepers, local emergency services and community organizations. The names read aloud included former members of the Legion and those who died in service.
The ceremony also included a prayer asking that the sacrifices of those who died for freedom would not be forgotten.
A representative of the Melbourne Legion said the ceremony is traditionally held on the Sunday before Remembrance Day to make it easier for residents to attend.
He said the reading of names was particularly meaningful because he had known many of those being remembered. “When they run off that list, I bet you I knew 75% of the people that are on that,” he said.
