This page was exported from Shelburne Free Press [ https://shelburnefreepress.ca ] Export date:Thu Jan 22 4:25:28 2026 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Shelburne honours veterans past and present at annual Remembrance Day Service  --------------------------------------------------- Written By Joshua Drakes  LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER It has been 80 years since Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allied powers, effectively ending World War II. On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the Town of Shelburne demonstrated its dedication to never forgetting the sacrifices Canadians made to achieve that victory. Local politicians, veterans, their families, and residents gathered at the Shelburne Legion Branch 220 to begin the morning with a service to remember the dead and honour the living. Veterans sat on stage, behind the crowd, and within, close to relatives or by themselves. Air Cadets from #164 Squadron waited nearby. Shelburne Mayor Wade Mills addressed the service by reminding everyone why Canadians gather on Nov. 11. “We observe Remembrance Day on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” he said. “We're gathered here together at our community Legion branch, and then later (at) the cenotaph.” Mayor Mills continued, “These special places are those of remembrance, and as human beings, our memories are most commonly expressed through words, but mere words alone seem wholly inadequate. Nothing we say here today could ever possibly be good enough to honour these brave men and women, because what they gave us is beyond our powers as human beings to repay.” After the mayor concluded his address, attention turned to Captain Diane Powers from Shelburne's #164 Air Cadets. Powers came with a special presentation about VE Day. She said the Legion and the Cadets had realized that World War II isn't widely taught in schools anymore, as it increasingly becomes a distant conflict from generations long since passed. “The reason I've been asked to do this presentation is because the Legion overheard us giving this presentation to our cadets on VE Day,” she said. “It wasn't really a planned thing; we just wanted to share something and celebrate VE Day to help them remember our history. The sad part is that many of them didn't speak about it in school. They didn't know about the day and what it meant. So that's why we're here. To remember.” She highlighted the extraordinary effort Canada went through to punch upwards during the war. Despite being a Dominion, and not a fully independent nation, Canada carved out a reputation for itself, one of valour, courage and power. “One million Canadians served during the Second World War, out of a population of 11 million,” she said. “That's a significant number – 43,000 of those men and women died. Some of their banners are hanging here at the Legion.” Powers encouraged everyone to remember them. “Be proud of our flag. Be proud of our country. Please, continue to learn and to grow.” After Powers finished her presentation, local historian Neil Orford took to the stage. He said that with declining conversations about and knowledge of Canada's history, it has never been more important to be conscious of what veterans fought and died for, and the freedom they gave to all Canadians.  The Canadian army played a significant role in the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II, often serving as the tip of the spear during the offensives pushing north-east into Germany. The Netherlands remains grateful to Canada for liberating it from German occupation and for assisting in its post-war reconstruction. “It is important that we talk about VE Day,” Orford said. “Here in Canada, most historians agree that the battles undertaken by Canadians to liberate the Netherlands represent Canada's greatest military achievements. By May of 1945, four divisions of the Canadian Army had come together to liberate the Netherlands, and that was about 120,000 servicemen.” “Eighty years on, many Canadians know little about the importance of VE Day,” he added. Orford finished by challenging Canadians to learn about their military history and how it shaped the country they now live in. He said people can't allow themselves to forget the sacrifices made to get Canada to where it is today, or they may be doomed to repeat the cycle. “We must tell our veterans' stories truthfully and bravely, for if we don't embrace our history, no one else will,” he said. “VE Day is a day to recommit ourselves to (honouring) the sacrifices of the fallen. We have the duty to continue the fight where they cannot.” When Orford finished, the service continued with a reading of In Flanders Fields by John McRae by a #164 Squadron Cadet.  After the reading, the congregation was asked to stand as the Legion's colour guard retrieved the colours, and Last Post was played, followed by a lament and Reveille. The service concluded, and the Legion, veterans, cadets and congregation marched from Branch 220 to the Cenotaph outside of Shelburne Town Hall. Once in position, cadets mounted guard on the cenotaph as wreaths were placed at the base of the monument, honouring veterans who served recently as peacekeepers, all the way back to veterans of World War I. Local residents braved the cold wind and snow in a large showing, with roughly 200 people filling up Victoria Street in downtown Shelburne. It was a solemn but profound promise from the living to always remember and cherish the fallen who gave everything they had for Canadians to live in the peace and prosperity they now enjoy. --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2025-11-13 12:18:12 Post date GMT: 2025-11-13 17:18:12 Post modified date: 2025-11-13 13:30:40 Post modified date GMT: 2025-11-13 18:30:40 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com