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Remembrance Day service held at Norquay on November 11

By Marlene Jacquemart
Remembrance Day
Among the participants at the Norquay Remembrance Day service at Norquay Communiplex on November 11, from left, were: (back row) Back, from left: Cst. Katie Dangerfield of the RCMP, Cst Stacey Woelk of the RCMP, Cst. Ryan Nicholason of the RCMP, Mary Sill, Cst. Conal Shepherd of the RCMP, Leon Sill, Cst. Justin Remple of the RCMP, Kathy Ostafichuk, Barb Fraser, Lennie Abbott, Denise McGonigal, Betty Lou Skogan, Donna Lumley, Marlene Jacquemart, Rev. Margaret MaCullen, Jeremy Korpusik and Ken Paluck, and (front) Bev Forshner, Jennifer Galay, Millie and Bob Abbott, Smith Thompson, Phoenix Galay, Dorothy Griffith, Cora Stobee, Laura Dahl and Jude Achtymichuk.

            The Norquay Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion which includes members in Pelly and Sturgis, held its Remembrance Day service at 11 a.m. on November 11 at the Norquay Communiplex.

Members of the RCMP led the parade with the Colour Party followed by Legion members, who had marched from the Legion Hall to the Communiplex after Laura Dahl, president, had laid a wreath at the Legion cenotaph.

            All the people stood as the RCMP, Colour Party and Legion members marched in and were seated. Representatives of various churches and the pianist were seated on the stage. The program opened with the singing of O Canada. Ewan Achtymichuk playedThe Last Post, and after two minutes of silence, Reveille was played by Jude Achtymichuk. Both are of Yorkton.

            Dahl opened the program saying: “They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them," to which Legion members responded: "We will remember them."

            The invocation was given by Genoveve Galay of the Hyas Baptist Church.

            Wreathes were laid by representatives of the Legion, Government of Canada, Province of Saskatchewan, Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, RMs of Clayton, Keys, Livingston and St. Philips, towns of Norquay and Sturgis, villages of Arran, Hyas and Pelly, the Covenant Church, Hyas Baptist Church, Norquay School and staff, Norquay NICE Centre, Pelly Happy Hearts, Sturgis READ Club, Norquay Firemen, Duck Mountain Ambulance, Norquay Health Care, Heskin's Backhoe, Primary Care, Prairie Soil Services, Western Alfalfa, Norquay Co-op, Alpha Safety Services, Canada Post, Norquay Agencies, CIBC, RB's Place, Larson's Pro Hardware, Affinity Credit Union (Norquay branch), Johnson's Grocery Market, Gifts Galore, Cherewyk Backhoe, Whistlestop, GM Excavating, MLJ Accounting, Norquay Family Pharmacy, Robinson's Family Foods, Raynor's Welding, Uff Da Soaps, Onyx Nail and Hair, Pelly Eight and Forty-nine, Miller Agencies, Pelly Groceries, Links Family Restaurant, Big Country Bison, Crop Productions Services, Moroz  Agra, Ramsey's Fitness, Pelly Child Care Centre, Salon 101, Crossroads Credit Union, Black Bear Inn, Sturgis Sportsland, Sturgis Chuckwagon Diner, Lynn's Restaurant, Sturgis Gateway Co-op, Crosscuts Hair Salon, Parkland Natural Health, Lil's Hometown Fashions, Sturgis Agencies, Dymtrash's one Stop Fuel Shop, Sturgis Plumbing and Heating, Sturgis Station House Museum, Rawhides Restaurant of Stenen, Hyena's Truck Service,  and in memory of William Markewich, Clarence Nystrom, Gordon Brown, Melvin Griffith, Stephen Gazdewich, Andrew John Severson, and Ken Fraser.

            Heads bowed as Pastor Arden Gustafson led the opening  and closing prayers.

            Hymns sung were Faith of Our Fathers and Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past with Kathy Ostafichuk at the piano.

            Marlene Jacquemart of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, read Micah 4: 1-5; Donna Lumley of the St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church read Ephesians 3:1-9 and Karen Filipowich of the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church read Matthew 5: 1-9.

            The Woodland Chorus sang two songs, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus and It's Good to be Back Home Again andNorquay Mayor Don Tower said a few words.

            Mervin Abrahamson of the Pelly Fellowship Chapel gave the final benediction.

            The Colours were retrieved, followed by the singing of God Save the Queen.

            When the service was over, people set up tables and chairs for a beef supper catered by the Whistlestop restaurant. The toast to the Queen was given by Bob Abbott Sr. of Yorkton.

            Grace was said by Laura Dahl.

            Dahl read two essays by students called Sacrifice and Is Two Minutes Enough?

            Barry Bogucky won the 50/50 for a total of $130.