OLDS — Mayor Michael Muzychka made a plea for unity during today's Remembrance Day services in the wake of anger over the re-election of the Liberals and talk of “wexit” from the rest of the country.
Muzychka was the guest speaker for the Olds community service, held in the Ralph Klein Centre.
Muzychka conceded that Albertans have had some “trying times politically and economically” in recent years.
But he said people must remember that Canadians from all regions of the country fought together for the freedom we have today.
“It’s not Eastern Canada and Western Canada; It’s Canada as a whole,” Muzychka said.
“On this day, we remember the people that gave us the freedoms that we have today and how important their sacrifice was to the quality of life that we have here today.
“But we also need to remember that it was Canada together that stood up against tyranny all over the world and won those wars.
“My message today please, is remember we are one united Canada and please let us remember today all the important sacrifices that gave us the quality of life that we have. Lest we forget,” he said.
During his address, Pastor John Lentz of St. Paul Lutheran Church quoted a famous line from the Bible:
“They will beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation. Nor will they train for war anymore.”
Lentz noted that sadly, things haven’t worked out that way. There have been many, many wars throughout history, and Canadians are still serving in conflicts around the globe.
“They are us. They walk among us. They were someone’s child, brother, sister, parent,” Lentz said. “They were the willing; willing to set their lives between us and tyranny, between us and evil.”
“It appears that beating swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks is a more difficult task than we thought. Remember, there was a war to end all wars and that did not work,” he said.
Lentz urged the crowd to “remember with solemn thankfulness by being peacemakers and supporting our armed forces wherever it is that they go around the world. They are us.
“Remember that. And when you see them, don’t just smile. Pat them on the back. Say thank you. Carry on.”
Padre Charles Johnston recited several readings from the Bible, including this one from the Gospel of John, 15:13; “greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Tom Bartholow, president of Olds Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105, gave the Act of Remembrance.
The Olds junior and senior high school band played Fallen Heros and God Save the Queen. The junior and senior high school choir sang After The War.
The Olds Community Chorus sang two pieces: Vision of Peace and All On A Cold Winter’s Night.
Many groups and organizations -- including representatives of the federal and provincial governments as well as the Town of Olds, Mountain View County, RCMP, the Olds Fire Department and several service clubs -- laid wreaths at the cenotaph.
Luke Sabey played The Last Post and Reveille. Piper David Clemens performed The Lament.
Second Lt. Grant Anning served as parade marshall. Leslie Manchur served as Sgt. At Arms.
Chaplain Harold Hunter, who served as MC for the occasion, gave the benediction as the service came to a close.
“And now we pray that as we leave this place, that we’ll go and that we will go to seek peace – in our own hearts at peace, in our community and around the world,” he said, asking for sympathy for those who are going through a difficult time after having lost loved ones this year.
Plans also called for a brief ceremony to be performed at the cenotaph in Centennial Park.
