Davidson, featured

Nov. 11 service wraps up busy year for Legion branch

Tony Billett and Gordon McRae lead the colour party as they enter to start Davidson’s Remembrance Day service.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — For members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 51, this year has been the busiest in recent memory.

On July 1, the branch unveiled a new monument, a granite pillar bearing the names of 614 men and women from the area who have served their country in uniform.

The $15,000 project, in the works for several years, stands as a companion to the older cenotaph that has stood on Davidson’s main street since 1926.

The next month, the Legion hosted a stop on the “Birth of a Nation” tour, featuring replicas of the planes used in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

Upwards of 300 people attended a meet-and-greet on Aug. 16, where they could chat with the three pilots and see the Nieuport II replicas up close, while roughly 100 attended a dinner in their honour at the town hall that same night.

Gordon McRae, president of the local Legion branch, said they have a total of 38 members, having added several new recruits in the past year.

“We don’t do a lot, but we do good stuff,” McRae said.

One annual duty is the public Remembrance Day service, organized by the Legion and the Davidson Inter-Church Association (DICA).

Due to an aging membership and declining numbers, the Legion branch announced in 2007 that it would no longer organize a public Nov. 11 service. (Annual services continued at Davidson School.)

Three years later, the Legion branch and local churches joined forces to revive the tradition, and it has continued ever since.

This year’s service drew about 175 people to Davidson Town Hall.

“We are reminded of the sacrifices that were being made and are still being made,” said emcee Mary Jane Morrison.

She said these include both historic battles — like Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, both fought in 1917 — and today’s conflicts, “wars that were and wars that continue.”

Pianist Nancy Wilkins and a community choir led the singing. The Prairie Spirit Trefoil Guild served as ushers and took up a collection in support of DICA’s Christmas gift card project.

Comrade Wayne Morrison directed the colour party, which entered to open the service. “O Canada” was sung and Rev. Matthias Ross offered a prayer.

After the Last Post, the audience observed two minutes of silence, followed by Reveille and the Act of Remembrance.

Comrade Ila May Northrop read the names of the fallen, including 38 who died in the First World War and 21 who died in the Second World War.

A total of 15 wreaths were laid at the front of the hall, after which the hymn “For the Healing of the Nations” was sung.

Scripture lessons were read by Carol Dieno, Rob Warkentin and Lana Johnsson, followed by the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

A video presentation created by Davidson School students was shown, focusing on the Battle of Vimy Ridge and incorporating actual film footage. The video also included the names of seven soldiers from Davidson with no known resting place, whose names are engraved on the Vimy memorial.

Comrades Bonnie Jean Low and Mary Lynne Golphy presented a history of Canada’s military from 1867 onward.

Following the offering, Larry Packet gave the prayer of dedication, after which the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers” was sung.

A prayer for world peace was followed by a benediction prayer by Pastor John Slemming, the singing of “God Save the Queen” and the retiring of colours.

A stew luncheon was served after the service. A silver collection was taken with proceeds going to Branch No. 51. Riverbend Co-op provided the doughnuts.

The following people laid wreaths:

  • The Mothers: Sylvia McConnell and Hattie Warren.
  • Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 51: Com. Gordon McRae and Com. Wayne Morrison.
  • Ladies Auxiliary, Royal Canadian Legion: Com. Mary Lynne Golphy and Com. Bonnie Jean Low.
  • Government of Saskatchewan: MLA Greg Brkich and Com. Wayne Morrison.
  • Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan: Lois Sarich and Addie Folk.
  • Davidson Seniors: Irene Olson and Com. Bonnie Jean Low.
  • Town of Davidson: Gary Edom and Coun. Gene Stangland.
  • RM of Willner: Coun. Steven Barlow and Darwin Taylor.
  • RM of Arm River: Reeve Wayne Obrigewitsch and Com. Mary Lynne Golphy.
  • Davidson Inter-Church Association: Pastor John Slemming and Rob Warkentin.
  • Carl Gregor Memorial: Doug Gregor and grandchildren Colten and Dylan King.
  • Ernest Johnson Memorial: Everett Johnson, Arlene McCreary and Karla McConnell.
  • Barney, Marg, Stan and W. S. Thompson Memorial: Com. Vickie Thompson and Com. Wayne Morrison.
  • Davidson School: Com. Karielle Willner and Cadet Jacob Heinrich.
  • Davidson Kinsmen: Gerrid Gust and Com. Jessica Morrison.