Red Deerians were able to honour veterans at two ceremonies on Remembrance Day.
Korean War Veterans of Red Deer #67 held a ceremony at the Red Deer Cenotaph downtown and the Red Deer Legion hosted a ceremony at the Servus Arena.
This is the 10th and final year the Korean War Veterans of Red Deer #67 will host the ceremony downtown.
The organizers will look to find another group to continue providing a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph in the future.
This year’s event was live-streamed on Facebook for those who could not attend.
Amanda Kerik, one of the organizers, said it’s been “special” organizing these events over the past 10 years.
“It’s been a huge thing in my entire upbringing. The whole military lifestyle has been in our life forever,” said Kerik, who was wearing a jacket previously owned by her grandfather, who was a Korean War veteran.
“Remembrance Day isn’t a holiday for us. It’s an important day.”
Sgt. Joe Anderson, with Red Deer’s 20th Field Artillery Regiment, assists in getting military participants in attendance each year. He has been helping with the event since returning from Afghanistan in 2010.
“They’ve done a great job. It’s sad to see them put down their organization hats, but we’ve had discussions about finding people to take that role. I’ll continue to do my role,” Anderson said.
Provincially, Premier Jason Kenney issued a statement to honour the Canadian military and their sacrifices.
“Today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause solemnly to reflect and salute the heroic contributions that thousands of Canadian soldiers have made in war to secure the freedom and prosperity our country enjoys,” Kenney said.
“In the battle-scarred fields of the First World War, bright poppies bloomed among the graves of the fallen. Many returned wounded and scarred – or never returned at all. We lost more than 65,000 brave Canadians in the First World War and more than 50,000 in conflicts since.
“These flowers and our thoughts are a modest remembrance of their sacrifice. We must be intentional in remembering and honouring their sacrifice.
“Please pause and take some time to remember our brave men and women who have served and who have died in the duty of protecting our freedom.”
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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