The annual Decoration Day service held on June 2 at the Canora Cemetery was opened with the singing of O Canada.
Pastor Greg Bright read a scripture passage from Psalms 146 to begin the service.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings who cannot save. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
Bright let the singing of two favourite traditional hymns, O God Our Help in Ages Past and How Great Thou Art.
In his address, Bright spoke on the theme “Where do you put your trust.”
He opened with the history of Decoration Day.
“Decoration Day has been recognized in Canada since 1890. It began as a grass-roots recognition of Canadians who fought in the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866, even before Confederation. The battle took place just half an hour from where I lived in southern Ontario. The battle was near the village of Ridgeway.”
Bright said it was an all-Canadian defence against at Irish-American invasion attempt.
“Their plan was to take over Canada and hold it hostage until the British moved out of Ireland and allowed the Irish to have their political independence. Although the experienced American troops won the Battle of Ridgeway, their takeover attempt didn’t work. The rest of the United States did not support them against the British and the raids were repelled.”
Bright said the Canadian soldiers who defended Canada during the attempted invasion received little recognition by the Canadian government for their contributions and 25 years later, in 1890, the veterans organized their own commemoration, which took on national significance.
From 1890 to 1931, Decoration Day, observed on or near June 2, was the national Canadian “Remembrance Day,” he said. It began as a day to remember the forgotten.
“In 1931, an act of Parliament made November 11 our official “Remembrance Day.” Interestingly, when Remembrance Day was moved to November 11, those who fought in the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866 were excluded from official recognition. Official recognition for military service only went back as far as the South African War of 1899.”
Bright said there is always a need to remember.
“And we gather today to honour those who have served us. And in doing so, we honour those who are serving us. The fact that we are here today is testimony that their sacrifice was not wasted. We are benefiting from their sacrifice. We have much to be thankful for. We are thankful for the country in which we live. It’s not perfect, no country is, but we have a lot to be thankful for.
“No one wants war. When a war ends, no one says, “That was fun, let’s do it again.” Our desire is for peace and God is the author of peace. I know of no other source of peace.
“So even as we celebrate the peace that we have, and the sacrifice that others have paid for our peace, we are not celebrating war, but the peace that we share. And in order to maintain that peace, we must seek to live as people of peace. The God who made this world revealed Himself to us in so many ways, but most fully in the person of His son Jesus Christ.
“Jesus revealed to us the extent of God’s love when He died for us. He loves us that much. And He rose from the dead, as amazing as that is, to give us hope and life. He invites us into a life of love, living out these ideals and being the people we were created to be.
“God calls us to do what he does: uphold the cause of the oppressed, feed the hungry, set prisoners free, give sight to the blind, lift up those who are bowed down, love righteousness, watch over foreigners instead of looking down them, sustain the fatherless and the widows and taking care of the week and the powerless within our society.
“And it’s good to know that God will continue to frustrate the ways of the wicked. And he does that, in part, through individuals and agencies He raises up to defend us. He also does that through allowing the greed and selfishness of those who are dominated by evil intent to bring about their own destruction.
“And that’s one reason we give thanks today for those who have been His instruments to bring peace to our nation, and continue the tradition of laying wreaths in honour of those who have given their lives in service of their country,” Bright concluded.
Pat Thompson, president, Canora branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, accompanied by fellow Canora Legion member Chris Sokoloski.
Sgt. Tessa Spokes of the Canora air cadets laid a wreath during the service, accompanied by Thompson.
Joined by Randy Molyneaux, Canora Legion member, LAC Dawson Jennings of the Canora air cadets laid a wreath during the service.
The Last Post was played, followed by a two-minute silence.
As Legion president, Thompson read the commemorative verse:
“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor years condemn;
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.”
And the members of the Legion responded:
“We will remember them.”
The playing of Reveille was followed by the benediction.
After the singing of God Save The Queen, all those at the service were invited to the Legion Dugout for refreshments.
