(Leeds/Grenville, ON – November 13, 2024) It was a cold and wet day as Gananoque and area celebrated Remembrance Day on November 11, but that has never stopped the crowds from coming out to pay homage to the fallen. Services were held in Gananoque, Lansdowne, Rockport, and many other surrounding communities.
Wherever a ceremony was held, indoors or out, the message remained the same – We Will Remember Them. In Gananoque, the ceremony was emceed by Mayor John Beddows, with Legionnaire Anne Parker reading out the Act of Remembrance and Arch Deacon Wayne Varley presenting the prayers. Music was provided by the Queen’s Bands and vocals by the Gananoque Choir.
Students from Amelia’s Angels Day Care (aged about 3 ½ years each) brought the poppies they had made to the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 92 marched to the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Gananoque Mayor John Beddows and Legionnaire Anne Parker presented at the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Local elementary school students came out to be part of the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Wreathes were laid at the cenotaph as part of the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Gananoque Poet Laureate Gretchen Huntley read out her special poem for the occaion at the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Unidentified students from Gananoque Intermediate and Secondary School read out the names of the fallen at the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Many members of the crowd left their poppies on the cenotaph at the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Everyone was invited back to the Legion for chili and conversation. The 21EW – CFB Kingston enjoyed the break after the Remembrance Services held in Gananoque on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
The names of the fallen, their ranks and ages, were read out by students from the Gananoque Intermediate and Secondary School, and a special poem for the occasion was presented by local poet laureate Gretchen Huntley.
“I recently saw a flag
It was for Remembrance Day
The words upon it were beautiful
The saying went this way
‘We don’t know them all
But we owe them all’
It stopped me in my tracks
There truly is no doubt
That is an actual fact”
From the oldest old to the youngest, all had gathered to prove those words true. Representing CFB Kingston this year were members of the 21EW (Electronic Warfare).
About 30 people came out for Remembrance Services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Arch Deacon Wayne Varley led the Remembrance service in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Arch Deacon Wayne Varley led the Remembrance Services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
The Legion colour guard performing the ceremonial dip during the Last Call at the Remembrance services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
TLTI Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke laid a wreath during the Remembrance services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Wreaths were laid during the Rem embrance services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Wreaths were laid during the Rem embrance services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Wreaths were laid during the Rem embrance services in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
The biography of one of the fallen – CA MAssdey – was read out by one of his descendants at the Remembrance servi e in Rockport on November 11, 2024. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Members of municipal council came out to pay their respects at the Remembrance service held in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Members of the Legion coulour guard at the Remembrance Service in Rockport on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
In Rockport, services were led by Arch Deacon Varley and a reading performed by Karolyn Massey in honour of Gunner Charles Massey Junior. He is the fourth person named on their cenotaph to be so honoured. The colour guard dipped colours to the fallen, and all heads were bowed. Although the service was shorter, it was no less meaningful to all in attendance.
Over forty wreathes were placed in honour of the fallen at the Remembrance service held in Lansdowne on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network 
Over forty wreathes were placed in honour of the fallen at the Remembrance service held in Lansdowne on November 11. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
In Lansdowne, services were held inside with the laying of the wreathes outside.
“The school gym was completely full,” said Janet Gaylord, Legion PRO. “Lots of people were standing. The students’ presentations were very meaningful, and they used sign language, English, and French.
“Each class made a special wreath in honour of the fallen.
“The service people, military, veterans and community members all went out to the Lansdowne Veterans Memorial to lay wreaths to honour our fallen and the veterans. You could see in their faces the feelings of pride, respect and thanks for the men and women who sacrificed for us and are still serving. Nancee Payne (mother of fallen local man Cpl. Randy Payne) laid the first wreath for Mothers of Canada. She also laid the wreath for Afghanistan and in memory of her son.”
A song was also written and presented by a local song writer, giving a personal meaning to the occasion.
“Dying for freedom is not the worst thing that can happen – being forgotten is,” read Mayor Beddows in Gananoque from the official event programme. “This inscription was on a banner which greeted Canadian veterans who had returned to the Netherlands in 2005 to mark their role in the liberation of that country.
“The Netherlands contains the graves of over 7,600 Canadians killed in the 8 months of fighting there.
“This year marked the 75th anniversary of the allied victories over Germany and Japan which ended the Second World War period the fighting claimed the lives of 45,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors, and airmen, including 25 men from the Gananoque area. The names on this memorial remind us that maintaining freedom and peace comes at great cost.”
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