OUTLOOK - The town of Outlook and dozens of its citizens marked Remembrance Day 2024 amidst a chilly, windy morning on Monday, November 11.
Of course, no one was daring to complain, notably when one remembers the much harsher, much more unforgiving conditions and terrain that so many soldiers faced in times of combat generations ago.
Outlook Branch #262 of the Royal Canadian Legion welcomed people to the riverside community's annual Remembrance Day ceremony, held at Veterans Memorial Park.
Welcoming everyone to the morning ceremony was President of Legion Branch #262, John McPhail, who asked town mayor Maureen Weiterman to come forward with an acknowledgement of the sacred land on which Veterans Memorial Park is located. Making her final formal appearance as Outlook's mayor before Wednesday's municipal election, Weiterman was stoic in her demeanor, she herself acknowledging that her time in officially representing the town is only hours away from coming to an end, but that perhaps there was no more fitting way to go out than to stand alongside veterans, Legion members, and the public in paying respect to the men and women who came before us and who died on battle fields dotting the Earth's landscape.
After the arrival of the Branch #262 Colour Party and the playing of the national anthem, 'The Last Post' and 'Rouse', young Outlook resident Jonah Turton recited 'In Flanders Fields' before the Outlook Men's Choir performed a rendition of 'The Mansions of the Lord', as directed by Graham Codling.
A prayer by Branch #262's padre, Pastor Mac de Waal was followed by the Pledge of Remembrance, and the Colour Party marched off with the flags after 'God Save the King' was heard throughout Veterans Memorial Park.
At the conclusion of the service, a number of wreaths were laid at the base of the cenotaph and all guests in attendance were invited to place their poppies there as well. Both remained in place until dusk later that day.
