Order of events
Sat. November 11
Vanderhoof Remembrance Day ceremonies started with a service was held at the Nechako Valley Secondary School at 9:45 a.m. commencing with a marching entrance into the gymnasium by Veterans, the Canadian Rangers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Legion, Vanderhoof Fire Department, the Vanderhoof Air Cadets, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.
Indoor programme
John Callaghan, took the mic as the MC for the indoor programme and all stood to sing the anthem ‘O Canada’, led by Yoshi Sawatzky accompanied by Swan Kiezebrink on the piano. Paster Shaun Wick opened with prayer and read from the scripture. After this everyone stood to sing ‘Amazing Grace’. Which was followed by a special song ‘A Clair Fountaine’ sung by Yoshi Sawatzky accompanied by Swan Kiezebrink on piano, Gideon Lamprecht with the Cello and Karyn Schlamp on violin.
Vanderhoof Pathfinders read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ which was followed by the laying of corporate and family wreaths.
After singing of ‘O God Our Help in Ages Past,’ Paster Wick did the offertory prayer. A donation was collected for Veterans while a slide show played followed by the closing Royal anthem, ‘God Save the Queen.’
Outdoor programme
At 10:20 a.m. the public assembled outside the school ready for the parade. With Shawn Butenshaw as Parade Marshall, the parade was led by the sound of bagpipes through the streets of Vanderhoof to Ferland Park.
At the Cenotaph the Air Cadets stood on guard with the Canadian Rangers, Canadian Legion and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Vanderhoof Fire Department, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides for the duration of the ceremony.
An list of military personnel was read out, naming local area soldiers lost in service. As heart-wrenching as ever, the ‘Last Post’ was played on trumpet by Craig Smith, which was followed by two minutes of silence. Then the trumpet broke the silence with ‘Rouse.’
Then began the laying of wreaths at the Cenotaph. Starting with a wreath on the behalf of the Government of Canada, The provincial Government, The municipal Government, Canadian forces, the Royal Canadian Legion, and then a wreath for all those fallen soldiers in all conflicts. Then followed family wreaths, after which the public was invited to place their poppies down as well.
The Parade marched through the streets again towards the Friendship Centre for a luncheon reception.
See Vanderhoof photos on page A8