Collingwood Remembers
They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn them.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them.
and remembering our solemn obligation,
may we ever pray:
Lord God of Hosts; be with us yet;
Lest we forget; lest we forget.
From coast to coast, Canadians paused to remember. Wreaths were laid to honour those who gave their lives in battle on behalf of their country and on behalf of freedom. The numbers were large this year. In Ottawa, an estimated crowd of 30,000 gathered to honour our war dead. Similarly, a large crowd gathered at the Collingwood Cenotaph on November 11, 2007 to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for freedom, and to remember those in more recent battles who also have paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy life as we know it in a free society.
The CBC reports that Canadian casualties in the five wars that Canada has fought in since 1899 include 244 in the Boer War (1899-1902), 66,655 in the First World War (1914-1918), 44,893 in the Second World War (1939-1945), 516 in the Korean War (1950 - 1953), and to date, 71 in Afghanistan.
In Collingwood, this year's Silver Cross Lady was Mary Lou Simonato. Wreaths were laid by Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson, Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier and Collingwood Deputy Mayor Sandra Cooper, Doug Measures from Clearview Township, Rob Graham, President of the Royal Canadian Legion Collingwood, Branch 63, the Canadian Armed Forces - Base Borden, The Merchant Marine, the Ladies Auxiliary Branch 63 Collingwood Legion and by students from Admiral Collingwood School representing Canada's Youth.
Their numbers are falling, but the memories remain strong.
Thank You Veterans. Thank You.