Dr. Robert Ritchie salutes during the Remembrance Day service on Wednesday at the Sonora Community Centre. Dr. Ritchie led the service. (Richard McGuire photo)
The gymnasium at the Sonora Community Centre was packed on Wednesday as Osoyoos residents turned out to pay tribute to veterans and their fallen comrades on Remembrance Day.
The service was led by Dr. Robert Ritchie. It followed the format of many previous ceremonies with the arrival of the colour party, national anthem, Last Post, silence, lament and Reveille. Unfortunately one of the cadets collapsed at the start of the silence, but the service carried on as first responders quickly helped the youth.
Rev. Steve Hershey led the prayers and gave a sermon. Sandra Holgate told the story of Canadian physician and Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrea before reading the famous poem he write in World War I, In Flanders Fields.
Then representatives of the different levels of government, service organizations and a few individuals laid wreaths at a wooden cenotaph at the front of the gym.
A briefer service followed with a smaller group at the cenotaph by the town hall.
(Richard McGuire photos)
The colour party arrives at the start of Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Piper Nigel Alakija follows the colour party into the gym at the Sonora Community Centre at the start of Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service. (Richard McGuire photo)
Cadets stand at attention at the front of the gym as the Remembrance Day service begins at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Cadets bow their heads at the front of the gym as the Remembrance Day service begins at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Sergeant-at-Arms Lew Taylor removes his poppy to lay it as an act of remembrance. (Richard McGuire photo)
Sandra Holgate tells the story of Canadian physician and Lieutenance-Colonel John McCrae, who wrote the poem In Flanders Fields, before she reads it. (Richard McGuire photo)
The Sonora Community Centre was packed full during Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service. (Richard McGuire photo)
The RCMP lay a wreath on behalf of the Queen during Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Tony Brummet lays a wreath on behalf of the Province of British Columbia. (Richard McGuire photo)
Bruce Davies, president of Branch 173 of the Royal Canadian Legion salutes after laying a wreath on behalf of the Legion. (Richard McGuire photo)
After the laying of wreaths, Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service at the Sonora Community Centre winds down. (Richard McGuire photo)
The colour party marches out at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Remembrance Day service at the Sonora Community Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
An abbreviated Remembrance Day service was held for a smaller group at the cenotaph after the main service at the Sonora Community centre. Here the RCMP lay a wreath on behalf of the Queen. (Richard McGuire photo)
