by Daniel Punch for the Sarnia Observer
(2012) Only the sound of a stiff breeze disrupted the heavy silence Sunday as Sarnia honoured its servicemen and women.
More than 500 people gathered downtown to watch the 2012 Remembrance Day Parade and subsequent service at Veterans Park.
The parade began at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 and marched down Christina Street to a chorus of bagpipers and drummers. The procession continued on to Veterans Park, stopping at the cenotaph next to Sarnia Library.
Nearly 120 wreaths were solemnly laid at the foot of the cenotaph to honour fallen veterans, and on behalf of various organizations throughout the county.
An impressive crowd turned out on a sunny, warm November morning. They respectfully applauded as veterans and soldiers passed by.
“It was just a wonderful recognition for (veterans),” remarked John Stewart, president of the local Air Force Association wing, who served as MC of the service.
Many saluted as The Last Post was played to honour fallen soldiers.
Grey-haired seniors stood beside young children, as peers, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents were remembered.
Some young people shook veterans’ hands and thanked them for their service.
“(Children) see some of these old veterans, they see they’re still here and they’re proud, that’s a learning experience for them,” Stewart said.
The procession was also a cross-section of Lambton County. The parade was led by a group of young cadets, who marched to the cenotaph where a number of Second World War veterans sat.
The community is slowly losing its Second World War veterans, who are mostly in their 80s, Stewart noted. About 30 were present at Sunday’s ceremony, he added.
Many veterans of Canada’s various peacekeeping missions and the war in Afghanistan were also in attendance.
Laying the first wreath were Pat and Mark Poland, the mother and brother of Cpl. Brent Poland, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2007.
Dcn. Chuck Stevens spoke about the “changing face” of veterans, and the need to recognize Canadians who served in more recent conflicts.
All veterans face the same challenges and deserve the same treatment, Stewart noted.
“The modern kid coming home, has had the same problems, and (we haven’t) quite recognized that yet,” he said.
“These are the veterans now, it’s just a different type of war.”
Lambton County has a strong military history, Stewart said, noting the community once had the highest rate of Air Force enlistments per capita in North America.
Dcn. Stevens his hopes for a peaceful future with the crowd.
“We can only have that future if we remember, honour and respect the memory of those who have served us so faithfully and so well,” he said.