Veterans' sacrifices 'preserve values we believe in': Newmarket mayor

Bells to ring out across Canada as sun sets on Remembrance Day to mark a century since end of First World War

Yorkregion.com
November 12, 2018
Lisa Queen

In communities across York Region and all over Canada, hundreds of people lined the parade route and watched the Remembrance Day ceremony, as in Newmarket today.

This Nov. 11 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

As the sun sets later today, communities across Canada will ring bells to commemorate a century since church bells rang across Europe to signal the end of the 1914 to 1918 war.

Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen thanked members of the Royal Canadian Legion and the veterans’ association for organizing the Remembrance Day service that brought the community together to mark the important occasion.

“We’re especially grateful for their time and their hard work to enable us to share this moment to reflect back on the freedoms and the good fortunes that we have as Canadians and the sacrifices made to preserve the values that we believe in,” he said.

“May there be comfort in knowing that (veterans’) commitments to stand up, to protect human rights, freedom and justice remains one of Canada’s defining characteristics in the eyes of the world.”

Van Bynen read a moving poem about the far-reaching contributions of veterans.

“It is the veteran, and not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the veteran, and not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the veteran, and not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the veteran, and not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to assemble. It is the veteran, and not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the veteran, and not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the veteran who salutes the flag and it is the veteran who serves the flag. Eternal rest, grant onto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. We must remember them.”

The ceremony saw wreaths laid by representatives of many organizations including Veterans Affairs, the town, provincial and federal governments, cadets, the Navy League, York Regional Police, Central York Fire, Girl Guides, Scouts and others.