90 years on ... at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

[Mark W. Tonner]

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

[Pedr]

Lest we forget

[Gunner]

Carrying on a tradition started over 20 years ago, the local Legion (Branch 314) hosted remembrance activities in the three principle villages of the township. On Sun, 9 Nov we paraded in Kars and North Gower at 1130 and 1230 respectively.

The number of uniformed locals (military personnel posted to the national capital region) was heart warming to see. Our volunteer fire brigade turned out, having spent the morning with rakes and leaf blowers tidying up the cenotaphs.

Our excellent cadet corps (1st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery) provided the sentinels and wreath escorts while the S&P 6 pounder roared out the minute gun at both locations.

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month a crowd of over 500 (including all the kids from the local elementary school across the road) turned out at the cenotaph in Manotick. The parade consisted of the past, present and future with our local veterans forming the "past", elements from Canadian Forces Station Leitrim providing the "present" and nearly 40 of our cadet corps forming the "future" guards. Other uniformed services turned out in goodly numbers as well.

The cadet corps spent the night guarding the cenotaph as a vigil. Training and drill practice with the Lee-Enfield rifles started at 1900 hours Monday night, followed by a 12 hour vigil through the cold dark hours from 2230 to 1030 hrs the next morning. The cadets, 12 to 18 in age, took the duty on as an honour and we had absolutely no complaints about the cold as each pair marched their beat, spending 5 minutes in each 15 minute cycle to rest on arms reversed while the remaining 10 minutes was spent marching the area around the cenotaph under the supervision of the Guard Commander. The hourly changing of the guard, was started with the centuries old challenge of "Halt, who goes there?" followed by the response of "The Keys!"; "Whose Keys?"; "The Queens' Keys!"; "Advance the Queens' Keys and be recognised!". The Officer of the Day (the cadet Warrant Officers in full patrol dress with swords) then supervised the changing of the guard and read the New Guard their orders by moonlight. Once the change was effected, the Old Guard was marched off for hot cocoa and a few hours of kip. The last changing of the guard was supervised personally by the Cadet Battery Commander who posted the sentinels for the 11 o'clock ceremony. Well done to these keen youngsters for taking up the torch!

Unfortunately, the minute gun suffered a tractor breakdown on Tuesday morning and arrived on its platform just one minute before the "last post" was sounded. To add insult to injury, the first round had gotten damp and the powder was no longer dry! A mighty plffft! was the response to the actuation of the firing lock but two minutes later a tremendous roar startled the crowd and the "rouse" sounded! The second round was nice and dry!

The ceremonies ended with a march past and drive past through the village (the less ambulatory vets were trailer mounted and the minute gun was towed by a now happily purring gun tractor that gave no evidence of the dead battery it suffered earlier! ). At the end of the parade we held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Legion Hall (the old having burned down three years ago!). Needless to say the place was packed with chilled chowder seekers and those who wanted to see inside the wonderful new facility. The day ended in warm camaradery and congratulations to all who had worked hard to make the ceremonies dignified and meaningfull.



Mike

P.S. My father, Colonel (Ret'd) Michael D. Calnan, tells me that he stopped on the eleventh hole at the eleventh hour for two minutes of silence with his foursome of retired Canadian Forces and RCMP officers, all snowbirds down in Florida!