Remembrance Day Service

Our Town has held a Remembrance Day Service in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Legion, Mount Albert & District (Ont. No. 382) Branch, at the Cenotaph situated in front of The Town Civic Centre on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, since the unveiling of the Cenotaph in September, 1990.
The Cenotaph was designed by Mr. John van Boxtel, who was liberated by Canadian Forces in Holland in 1944. The figure was cast at Asten, near Arnhem, Holland. It depicts a grieving woman and was the unanimous choice of the Cenotaph Committee.

It is intended to be a Peace Memorial rather than a War Memorial. Colonel F.A. Tilston, V.C., C.D., LLD. unveiled the Monument with numerous dignitaries in attendance from the Armed Forces, Veterans, representatives of Federal and Provincial Governments, as well as Regional Mayors and other dignitaries.

In ancient times when men went to war each man placed a stone on what was known as a cairn. When the battles were over, and men returned, they removed their stones. The ones that remained were left as a memorial to the dead. As years passed, and other wars were fought, memorials were carved in granite or bronze, and placed in prominent places where people could see them and remember the dead.

Our sculpture symbolizes all the suffering of a country at war, but it also symbolizes our hope for Peace in the future. It is placed prominently in front of the Civic Centre to remind us that because of the Supreme Sacrifice of those whose names appear on this memorial, we have a country where we have freedom of speech. This is a privilege not found in all countries.

The 2009 Remembrance Day service will be held on Wednesday, November 11, at 10:50 a.m., at the Civic Centre, 19000 Leslie Street, Sharon.  Light refreshments will be served in the atrium following the ceremony.

Link to Veterans' Affairs site                            Link to In Flanders Fields poem