The day will come very soon when there are no remaining veterans from the Second World War or the Korean War that ended with an armistice seven decades ago this year.
To Municipality of Cumberland Mayor Murray Scott that’s why it’s so important today’s generation of Canadians continue to remember the sacrifices made by thousands of Canadians in two world wars, Korea, peacekeeping missions and the recent mission in Afghanistan that saw 159 Canadians lose their lives.
More than 25 wreaths were laid during the Remembrance ceremony in Advocate Harbour on Sunday, Nov. 5 with Municipality of Cumberland Mayor Murray Scott, municipal councillor Carrie Goodwin and MP Stephen Ellis among those to lay wreaths in honour of veterans in the community.
“Every Canadian has a responsibility to ensure that we remember the sacrifices they made so we can live in a free country today,” the mayor said. “It’s also important for us to make sure the next generation coming behind us is also aware what it means and what these people gave up so we can enjoy living in this great country.”
The mayor was joined by municipal councillor Carrie Goodwin in attending Remembrance ceremonies in Advocate Harbour on Nov. 5. Scott laid a wreath on behalf of the province while Goodwin laid one for the Municipality of Cumberland.
Scott later signed a proclamation declaring the week of Nov. 6 to 11 as Veterans Week within the municipality, being joined by Dara and Doug Legere from the Joggins Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The municipality and Amherst were also partners in the placement of a memorial in downtown Amherst to those who lost their lives during Canada’s mission to Afghanistan.
“We talk about the veterans who lost their lives, but there are also many who came home with injuries suffered in war and those who were emotionally injured. We owe them so much,” the mayor said. “Our schools are doing it and our legions are doing it. It’s so important our communities do it as well.”
With the Russian invasion of the Ukraine in early 2022 and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East in Gaza, the mayor said warfare continues to be a constant in our world as people continue to use violence to settle disputes between nations and groups.
Cumberland Colchester MP Stephen Ellis was the guest speaker at the Advocate Harbour ceremony. Ellis served four years with the Canadian Armed Forces, rising to the rank of captain and serving in Canada and the Middle East.
Ellis talked about the contribution of veterans in the Advocate Harbour to both world wars, Korea and countless peacekeeping missions on behalf of Canada.
“It’s a very long list of people who served and lost their lives, which is shocking given the size of the community, but not shocking considering how people there answered the call to action,” Ellis said.
Ellis had the opportunity over the summer to travel to South Korea with other members of parliament and veterans to mark the anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953. Listening to the stories of those who served in Korea was an eye-opener for the MP.
“It was great to go to Korea with those veterans, some of whom hadn’t been there since the end of the war,” Ellis said. “They were amazed at how far the country had come since the last time they were there.”
Ellis, who laid a wreath on behalf of the federal government, said it’s important for Canadians to never forget. He also said it’s important for Canada to have a strong military that can respond to a world in crisis as needed.
He also congratulated municipal partners and Justin McKay in raising the money to place the Afghanistan memorial in Amherst.
A number of wreaths were laid during the Advocate Harbour ceremony with Jess Cleveland and Hazel Cole laying a wreath in honour of all fallen veterans while Duncan Spicer laid a wreath for the Royal Canadian Navy and Doug Spicer for the Canadian Army. Layton Yorke laid a wreath on behalf of Korean War veterans, Arden Fletcher laid a wreath for United Nations peacekeeping veterans, Ken Morris laid a wreath for Merchant Navy veterans, Mann Forbes laid a wreath for the Parrsboro legion and Doug Legere laid one for the Joggins legion. Bill McCarty laid a wreath for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Oliver Goodman laid a wreath for the Advocate School and Mike MacDougall on behalf of the Advocate Fire Department.