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The Swift Current Comprehensive High School was a somber if not familiar site yesterday.
Families and friends of veterans along with those who cherish the sacrifices made by soldiers in service of Canada were gathered in the cafetorium for the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. The Remembrance Day service is held in unison across Canada at the same time, so that the whole country may observe the same moment of silence at the exact moment that World War II ended.
For Andy Moon, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56, the chance to honour that moment amongst so many others is a highlight each and every year. That fact is, this moment of silence has been around since the Allies first signed the papers.
"It gave everybody time to reflect on not hearing the big guns go again and everybody was able to say the war is over we're going home," said Moon. "That's why we have that silent moment to this day."
While there are fewer and fewer veterans of the Second World War left each year. Those who do attend are revered even as old age has latched onto them, slowing their stride.
"The veterans that are left, they March in very proudly," said Moon. "They might be hunched over, but they're very proud of what they've done."
Moon is hopeful that the kids who attend the service have the chance to inherit that respect, and the will to carry on the traditions into the future.
"We promote this to our youth, and our youth need to know that you get to play and run around the playgrounds and have the friends you have and not be told who your friend can or can't be is because of the sacrifices these veterans made," said Moon. "(These veterans), they're the last ones left.
"That's why we promote Remembrance Day so strongly because the young people of today have no idea of what they sacrificed."
While Moon's generation did not serve, they were raised by the generation that did. He and other members of the Legion have made it a life's goal to ensure the veterans of those conflicts are looked after and have friendly shoulders to lean on at the Legion. He is hopeful that more will continue to take up the mantle, remembering the hard truths of how freedom was won through the sacrifice of regular Canadians.