I had the privilege of attending the Hammonds Plains-Upper Hammonds Plains-Lucasville Remembrance Day ceremony today on the traditional “11th Month, 11th Day, 11th Hour” at the Hammonds Plains Cenotaph. I have attended Remembrance Day/Remembrance Sunday ceremonies around the world: Glace Bay, Wolfville, Royal Artillery Park Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth in Nova Scotia; Base Lahr, West Germany; Base Petawawa, National War Memorial and Royal Canadian Artillery Memorial, Ottawa, Toronto, Base Trenton, Quinte West, and Frankford in Ontario; Base Gagetown, Fredericton, and Mactaquac, New Brunswick; Sonaguera, Colon, Honduras; Base Chilliwack, British Columbia; RAF St. Magwan in the United Kingdom (in a sleet storm so vicious that the Grade 4 Piper’s pipes squealed); Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (during a UN tour); and at shortly after dawn at the Commonwealth Graves Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti due to the Al Shabab/Al-Qaeda terrorist threat to avoid being there at “the 11th Hour.” I have seen many, many variations on a theme with numerous nations – and today I was impressed.
Our mixed rural, suburban, and very dispersed Community, has been through significant traumatic events in the past 15 months with COVID-19, Hurricane Fiona, the Fires of June 2023, and the Floods of July 2023. The organizing committee orchestrated a moving, inclusive ceremony which recognized the contributions of service women, the Indigenous Mi’kmaq Community, the local Lucasville Black Nova Scotian Community, and serving CAF members, and Veterans. The formal parade was led by 3 Military Police Regiment, supported by 2632 Halifax-West Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, and 250 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Corps. Our Member of Parliament, our Member of the (Provincial) Legislative Assembly, and our District 13 Councilor of the Halifax Regional Municipality attended as did senior leaders of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) Police Department and the HRM Fire and Emergency Services. Approximately 1000 Community members attended during a brisk, cold morning with occasional rain squalls. The ceremony began with thanks to the brave members of the First Responder Community which did so much in mitigating the effects of the devastating fires, floods, and hurricanes of the past year.
One of the most impressive aspects of the ceremony is the cenotaph (Memorial number 12005-013). Installed in 2006 and dedicated in 2016, the cenotaph’s design harkens back to the Canadian “Brooding Soldier” Memorial at Ypres, Belgium, which was erected following the First World War. The cenotaph also recognizes the contributions of the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Merchant Navy, and Allied Forces. There are huge stones along a path adorned with plaques which recognize Nova Scotian winners of the Victoria Cross, Canadian Peacekeepers in Cyprus, and the Merchant Navy. The circle around the cenotaph is adorned at ground level with the names of local people who have served in war, conflict, and peacekeeping. What makes this cenotaph truly unique is that there are time capsules around the cenotaph containing soil from Vimy Ridge, France; Juno Beach, France; RAF Station Perranporth; Kapyong, Korea; Camp Julian, Afghanistan; salt water from the Atlantic Ocean; and a medicine bag from the Mi’kmak Community. “Lest We Forget” is displayed in English, French, and Mi’kmaq. The care and respect for all members of our Community for Veterans, past and present is evident. I feel proud to be a member of this Community.
