Rainy River Nov. 11th services well attended

By Ken Johnston
Editor

A capacity crowd was on hand for the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Rainy River Legion last Tuesday. An even larger crowd was outside the building as the two local schools released their students to attend the cenotaph portion of the service.
Pastor Darlene Smith gave a very touching meditation on this the 90th Anniversary of the end of WW I. She spoke of how soldiers are of a different mind-set than the average person. “They are dedicated to a cause and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We need to honour their hearts.”
Smith said she recently saw a soldier laying on his stomach checking for land mines. Not here in Canada but in a far away land. “He was checking because there were Afghani children playing in the area.”
Smith said that while Canada will never go to war with another country, “We face war all the time all over the world.”
Smith said that the Lord blesses those who fight a righteous war. “We are protected here because we support righteous wars. We are blessed because of that with peace here.”
“God devotion makes a country strong, God avoidance makes it weak. Thank you vets for being in righteous wars. We honour you this morning for your sacrifice.”
Mayor Debbie Ewald read the Honour Roll which was followed by two minutes of silence.
After the inside service was complete everyone joined the school kids outdoors where more than 60 wreathes were laid by veterans and citizens. A lunch was enjoyed by all after the service and later that day the Legion hosted a Remembrance Day banquet.