Hundreds gathered along Milltown Boulevard in St. Stephen on Thursday for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
It was a chance for residents in the border town to pay their respects to veterans, military members, and first responders.
Wayne Spires, the chaplain for the Royal Canadian Legion St. Croix Branch 9, said the turnout was wonderful to see.
“This county and this town are so generous when it comes to the Legion,” Spires said in an interview after the ceremony.
“They do remember the fallen. They do show concern for veterans because many of them have relatives that were veterans.”
Many of those who attended Thursday morning’s ceremony were young people. Some came with their families, others as part of sports teams from local schools.
“It gives my heart a little bump up saying ‘yes, the young still remember’ and they have the feelings towards their grandfathers and grandmothers their great-grandfathers that they served so they could have the freedoms they have today,” said Spires.
Wayne Spires, the chaplain for the Royal Canadian Legion St. Croix Branch 9. (Image: Brad Perry)
The ceremony looked a bit different this year as a result of restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spires said they could not have a piper and trumpeter on hand as part of the ceremony this year, so they had to rely on a recording.
“We usually have a young piper and a trumpeter who do The Rouse and The Lament, but because of COVID, we could not have those children do that,” he said. “We try to involve the young people in our ceremonies and we’ll keep them in mind when we can have them back with us.”
Only a handful of wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph during the ceremony, with the rest being put in place before it began.
There was also no parade of veterans and dignitaries, and the post-ceremony reception at the Legion was restricted to Legion members and veterans only.
The Milltown Cenotaph at the corner of Queensway Way and Church Street. (Image: Brad Perry)
St. Stephen Mayor Allan MacEachern said it was good to see people come out, even though things looked a bit different because of COVID-19.
“It’s good to see the kids come out with the families and let them know what’s going on and be part of our history,” said MacEachern.
A ceremony also took place at the Milltown Cenotaph at the corner of Queensway Way and Church Street.
The crowd continues to grow here near the Cenotaph in St. Stephen. pic.twitter.com/5MFvo3IWqZ
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) November 11, 2021
