Madawaska Valley residents filled the Barry’s Bay Legion Branch 406 for a solemn and moving Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11. Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Bryce welcomed those in attendance, and after the national anthem, Rev. Darlene Cunliffe led the Act of Remembrance. Then Last Post and Reveille were sounded and the Commitment to Remember was recited.
Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Bryce (left); audience in the Legion Hall
Many wreaths were laid, both indoors and pre-positioned outside at the cenotaph. As always, the first wreath was laid by this year’s Silver Cross Mother, Doris Hudder. Janet Paplinskie laid the wreath for the Dominion of Canada, Mrs. Betty Shalla placed one for the Province of Ontario, and Mayor Kim Love of Madawaska Valley laid wreaths for both the County of Renfrew and the Township of Madawaska Valley.
With a wreath in memory of Peter Hudder are family members Rosanne Hoffman (left), Christine Hudder, Doris Hudder, Lorraine Coulter; 653 Champlain Royal Air Cadet Squadron members Winter Biffert (left), John-Paul Shaw, Tristan Biffert, Peter Shaw with the Youth of Canada wreath they placed.
Canadian Forces members placed wreaths to commemorate each conflict Canada has been involved in and additional wreaths were placed by branches of the services, family members, community organizations and local businesses in memory of those who gave their lives in service of our country. After the final wreath was placed, everyone joined in a reading of Maj. John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders’ Fields.” Rev. Cunliffe gave the Blessing and the ceremony concluded with a singing of God Save The Queen.
Click HERE for a list of the wreaths laid on Remembrance Day 2019 at Legion Branch 406.
Following the ceremony, Branch 406 Ladies Auxiliary provided a hearty lunch of chilli and homebaked buns, desserts, hot drinks.
“Once There Was a War” at the Legion
On November 10 the Opeongo Readers’ Theatre performed a Remembrance Day show entitled “Once There Was a War” in front of an audience at the Barry’s Bay Legion Branch 406 on Remembrance Sunday. The show recalled trench warfare in World War I and included readings from diaries, letters and poems of soldiers and their loved ones. It concluded with an article written by John Wesley Dafoe of Combermere who, as editor of the Winnipeg Free Press, toured the trenches in the aftermath of the Great War.
Once There Was a War audience (left); Opeongo Readers’ Theatre members: producer Barry Conway at rear; cast from left: Heather Poliquin, Lois Losole, Karen Yakabuskie, Kristin Marchand, Frances Mawson, Danielle and Roger Paul (Photos: Gil Glofcheskie)
“Remember Me: WWII Letters Home” CDs now available
The Legion now has a stock of CDs of last year’s Opeongo Readers’ Theatre show “Remember Me: WWII Letters Home” – a reading of 28 letters written home to loved ones in the Upper Madawaska Valley during the Second World War. The CDs cost $10 each with proceeds going to the Legion and the Madawaska Valley Public Library. “Remember Me: WWII Letters Home” is also available on podcast and can be accessed online by searching for The Opeongo Line via your favourite podcast player app.