As I waited and observed people filing in before the service, I got to renew my acquaintance with Sean McCormick, the force behind Radio Hanna. Someone who would much rather be behind the scenes than perched on a chair on the stage, for this occasion he stepped out of his comfort zone "because it's important for us to keep what this day represents in our consciousness."
An RCMP officer came onto the stage with the officer who would command the Colour Party. They were going through the logistics of safely delivering flags on full-size poles through the low-set doorway, across the modest stage and into position. All had to be done without any person crossing the path of the flags from the point they were marched onstage to the time they were marched off again. "Protocol."I was hooked. For the rest of the service I kept one eye open to see if that was even doable. I am gratified to report that not one person, even those entering and exiting the stage, crossed the path of the flags!
I took a second look at the two men: The RCMP officer was none other than Jim, kind, patient Jim who comes to my rescue repeatedly at the Hanna UFA store when I don't know what it is I am looking for. He caught my eye and nodded. "Hello," he said with a twinkle.
It was 10:48.
We were supposed to start at 10:45.
Fortunately the familiar wheeze of the pipes could be heard moments later and the Colour Party started up the aisle following the opening remarks. At its helm was piper Stuart Somerville, a neighbour from Endiang. He performed his part in perfect tune and with the aplomb befitting the occasion. As the Colour Party approached the stage, the pipes went left and the flags, right.
Every flag was carefully delivered through the door and the party executed their march, halt and turn in perfect synchronicity.
From my vantage, I realized that this feat is much harder than it appeared when I have observed from a distance ...
Caught up in the moment, I almost forgot why I was on that stage. I quickly moved to the piano and struck up the introduction for O Canada.
As the last notes faded away, the officiant flipped on a recording of the trumpet's somber Last Post. The lfinaltrembling note led us into two minutes of silence, broken only by a tiny child's sweet voice asking a question of her daddy. And it reminded me of why we were here, why these men and women on the front row now stood, propped up on walkers and weighted down with medals.
They served to ensure that our "home and native land" remained "strong and free" despite the attacks from those who would have taken that freedom from us in both the World Wars. That little voice asking a question was as fitting as the silence.
Then the Reveille, signifying the breaking of the dawn, and the powerful voice crisply commanding the flag bearers to Deposit Colours.
Two young girls read In Flanders Fields. (The link will take you to Leonard Cohen's poignant recitation.)
And then the part for which Hanna's service is renowned: Debbie Corry's labour of love, the slide presentation "Veterans of Hanna and Beyond." As music plays in the background, the screen gives an image and Ms Corry reads each name aloud.
I had previously attended this service upstairs and so had never seen the video. Earlier I had congratulated myself on being asked to play the piano, thereby ensuring I had a seat on the main floor. However, remember the little directive to stay seated and out of the way? That included during the presentation! I saw the back of the screen ...
Charlie Fielding ...
Dick Bruner ...
And the other names followed.
Somewhere in the middle of the roll call came the six names I brace myself for:
Ivor Greenslade
Charlie Greenslade
Hugh Greenslade
Lloyd Greenslade
Roy Greenslade
Tom Greenslade
As the last name is read, I find my throat closing with emotion. My friend Julie, whose uncle is Lloyd, assured me that all with the exception of William Roy Greenslade returned home.
But can you imagine the mothers, the sisters, the wives as man after man in that family announced that it was his turn to sign up?
When the last name was proclaimed, and the screen creaked to its closed position, I looked up from my tiny corner to see this beautiful sight:
And then it was the Legion Chaplain's turn. Paul Warnock, who I am privileged to call my pastor, entitled his remarks "Personal Responsibility". He made four observations:
1. Personal responsibility requires maturity
2. Personal responsibility requires a willingness to make commitments
3. Personal responsibility requires more than talk
4. Personal responsibility will require sacrifice
He quoted Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Mahatma Gandhi and Elie Weisel, to name a few. He talked about his father, a stretcher bearer in the Medical Corps who landed on Juno Beach and worked right behind the front lines.
As he was closing, he said this:
As we take time today to remember those who gave so much, and at such great cost, let us not devalue their sacrifice by failing to shoulder those responsibilities which come to each of us as members of our community and our nation. Rather, let us, with that maturity which only comes as we make and keep our commitments, keep faith with those we honour here today. And likewise, let us, like those whom we now honour, be willing to give a service to others which, even if it is costly, makes this land in which we live a better and more blessed place.
(Sean McCormick extracted Chaplain Paul's remarks from the full broadcast; if you would like to listen to them in their entirety, click HERE.)
After a hymn, the Ode of Remembrance:
And then the laying of wreaths.
The first wreath of all was placed by Charlie Fielding. A Royal Air Force Cadet marched up bearing the wreath and stopped next to Charlie's seat.
With the weight of 99 years and a World War on him, our hero pushed himself to the front, saying quietly to the cadet, "Now, don't you worry about me. The important thing is that we lay the wreath properly." And with a few more words of murmured encouragement, the job was done.
The pause of respect; I wondered what memory crossed his mind? And then he was seated. And our other hero, Dick Bruner, rose to lay the second wreath, followed by the mayor and various other dignitaries.
After announcements, God Save the Queen, and then the Colour Party retired:
But somehow we were slow to leave this building that we all recognized was, in this moment, sacred ground.
What an honour to play a small part in the service! Thank you to the Legion members who pulled together a wonderful Remembrance Day morning.
What a privilege to live in Canada!
God, keep our land glorious and free.
O Canada, We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
(If you would like to view the entire service, Sean's broadcast can be accessed HERE.)
