As Legion Padre Reverend Doug Sheppard addressed attendees at Mosaic Place on Sunday, audible sniffles could be heard and tears could be seen welling in the corners of eyes.
“The wounds are healed, but the scars are forever,” said Reverend Sheppard as he opened Sunday’s Remembrance Day ceremonies at Mosaic Place. “Today we give thanks and we remember,” said Sheppard, “There is a time for war and a time for peace, now is a time for peace.”
The event that about 3000 to 4000 people were expected to attend suffered a slight dip in attendance this year. Legion President Kathie Martell attributes this to the snowstorm that Moose Jaw experienced over the weekend.
“I think today’s ceremony was very, very nice, everything went well,” said Martell, “I was kind of disappointed in the attendance because last year we had an absolutely full arena, and I think, because of the weather this year probably, it was a bit of a disappointment.”
Martell says that many people from surrounding communities were likely unable to attend this year due to the weather, including the original minister who was to speak at Sunday’s ceremonies. “He was snowed right in so he couldn’t even make it,” said Martell, adding that it was a good thing Reverend Sheppard was able to fill in last minute.
Martell said that the ceremonies have been changing slightly over the years, and that a few small changes this year contributed to an exceptionally memorable Remembrance Day service.
“This year we had the service troops on the ice surface, which we never, ever did before because it was always on an ice surface and it was really dangerous,” said Martell, “Now we can have them come out on the ice and it’s warm enough that they don’t freeze.”
For the rest of this story pick up Tuesday's edition of the Times-Herald.
