Hundreds of residents, with poppies proudly pinned to their chest, stood in silence during the annual Remembrance Day service at Veterans Park in Sarnia Wednesday.
The colour party left the Royal Canadian Legion on Front Street at 10:35 a.m. for the customary march through the downtown to the park to begin the Remembrance Day service.
The November 11 address was delivered by Deacon David Cummings.
"At the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, time stands still for a moment, and we remember those who died, not for war but for a world that would be free and at peace," said Cummings.
Cummings later challenged the large crowd gathered to reflect on what is asked of the living today.
"As we reflect on the cost they paid, what sacrifice are we asked to make, what cost are we willing to pay," said Cummings. "For us today, the only sacrifice we've been asked for is two minutes. Two minutes to stop from our busyness, from our own preoccupations and to remember, remember those who bought with their tomorrow, our today."
About 100 wreaths were laid at the foot of the war memorial by government officials, various organizations and local residents.
The first wreath was place by Memorial Cross Mother Pat Poland, whose son Brent was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
In a statement, Premier Doug Ford said this Remembrance Day is especially poignant following the devastating fire at CFB Wainwright, which claimed the lives of four service members while leaving dozens more in critical condition.
“On Remembrance Day, we pause to remember the sacrifices made by our veterans and members of the Armed Forces to defend the values and freedoms we enjoy to this day," said Ford. "We pause not only to remember the battles our veterans fought, but also the lives they put on hold, the families who waited for them and the scars that accompanied them home."
This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, founded in 1926 to create one main advocacy group for veterans’ benefits, and the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College.
