By Mikayla van Loon
Remembrance Day services were held across the region on Saturday 11 November, seeing crowds gather to pay their respects to the fallen and those still serving.
At the eleventh hour, Mount Evelyn and Montrose’s war memorials stood in silence to commemorate the soldiers who didn’t return home from battle, as well as those injured in conflicts.
Mount Evelyn RSL president said Remembrance Day this year marked the 105th anniversary of the agreement to end World War I.
“Today is the anniversary of the cessation of hostilities in World War One. In a train carriage in Compagnie, France, the Allies and Germans agreed to an armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918,” he said.
“This day for many years was called Armistice Day as a result. Later, the armistice led to a formal peace agreement ending World War One.”
But as World War Two rolled around not long after in 1939, it was decided by the Allies at the end of the war to change the day’s name.
“After World War Two ended, allied nations agreed to rename Armistice Day Remembrance Day to honour and recognise the Second World War,” Mr Crymble said.
“Sadly, many wars and military operations including peacekeeping missions have continued. To name a few; World War One, World War Two, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Cambodia, Rwanda, East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands. Some of those conflicts we revisited more than once.
“Many paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today, we pause and remember all those Australian men and women who have served their great nation and defended our way of life.”
In a moment of prayer, Kevin Van Lieuwen from the Mount Evelyn Christian Reformed Church prayed for peace in this world and for the ongoing suffering experienced by service men and women.
“We pray for peace in our hearts and homes, in our nations and our world. We pray for peace which is your will. We pray for peace that we so badly need,” he said.
“We pray for those left behind and we pray for the care of those who need the support that is given. We thank you so much for the work of the RSL and legacy who support families of service men and women who have been affected by war and conflict.”
As the community came forward to lay floral wreaths and tributes at the base of the cenotaph, piper Iain Townsley let the bagpipes fill the silence.
