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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, November 13, 2013 | 4 continued from p.1 Both ceremonies included memorial tributes, prayers, music and the laying of the wreaths. "The Great War was a horrific war... and by all accounts a pointless war. It is these moments in time that cause us great reflection," said Rev. Canon Dr. Darcy Lazerte of St. Simon's Anglican Church, who led the prayers and readings Monday. "As a species, to cause war is a tremendous responsibility and it is because of this responsibility that we return and honour those who made the ultimate cost to humanity and society. Our prayer and hope today is that never again do we exercise that responsibility." During the service, the St. Andrew's Children's Choir sang In Flanders Fields. Meanwhile as wreaths were being laid, an Avro Lancaster bomber, North American B-25 and Supermarine Spitfires performed fly-by's, Residents turn out to offer thanks for their freedom courtesy of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ont. While the weather was not as favourable as during last year's ceremony, the light rain and cold did not deter residents and veterans, young and old, from returning to George's Square to pay tribute and honour soldiers from the First and Second world wars, the Korean War and more recent conflicts, such as the one in Afghanistan. "It's a time to remember our past soldiers and fallen comrades from years past," said Cpl. H.M.V. Dias from the 48th Highlanders of Canada, part of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment in Toronto. An Oakville resident, Dias said she joined the military to honour her late father, who was part of the military in Portugal. She says she has been serving for 23 years and this is her 23rd year attending the Remembrance Day ceremony. This year's service was the second one Hamilton-resident Wayne Paulin, a senior recruiter for the Canadian Armed Forces, attended at the George's Square Cenotaph. He noted that it was by chance that he happened to be here last year. "The Cenotaph here in Oakville is one of the most impressive and the amount of people that come here (on Remembrance Day) is simply spectacular," said the 43-yearold. "It's beyond words to describe and I'm honoured to have been here last year and today." Paulin served in the Middle East, specifically in Israel and Syria, in 1990 and in Afghanistan in 2004 and 2007 and says it's important that Remembrance Day services continue to be held every Nov. 11. "It really comes down to not forgetting and honouring the sacrifices our past soldiers and airmen, all our branches of military and the vets in the Korean War and current conflicts have done for us and continually do for us," he said. "The minute we forget, we run into the territory of repeating the past." Oakville resident Adriana Bassi, 78, met Paulin Monday and thanked him for his service. "I shook his hand. I was very honoured to meet him," said Bassi, who was five years old and living in Italy during the Second World War. Bassi moved to Oakville in 1958 with her husband and has been attending the Remembrance Day ceremony in town every year to pay tribute to her two uncles, killed during the First World War. "I never miss it (the Remembrance Day service)," she said. "Although Canada is my second home, I am proud to be Canadian. In my life, I have good memories and bad memories and I just want to honour those who fought for my freedom and the freedom of others." Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 114 Oakville held its annual Remembrance Day service at the Oakville Cenotaph Monday. Clockwise from top left, Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner marches with RCMP officers during the parade. Len Stewart, who was attached to the Royal Air Force (R.A.F). Oakville Legion member Eric Wells. Legion officials stand at attention. Flora Stuckey, who was a WREN during the Second World War. Students attend the service. The late Col. Geoff Parker of Oakville, who was killed in Afghanistan, is remembered. Poppies are placed on the memorial. | photos by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Mauve Friday is Coming. Black Friday will never be the same.