Vancouver, B.C. , November 09. — St. Mary the Virgin South Hill – Anglican Church marked Remembrance Sunday, two days before November 11, Remembrance Day.
Every year, on or before November 11, the church marks Remembrance Day with the attendance of the Army, Navy & Air Force (ANAF) veterans. This year, the ANAF veterans were joined by the veterans of the Royal Canadian Legion.
On Remembrance Day (also called Poppy Day) itself, ceremonies will take place at memorials in Vancouver and all across Canada. It is a memorial day observed since the end of the First World War to honour men and women who served and died, and to remember those who came home from the horrors of the war. The remembering has expanded to include wars after the First World War — and there are many wars all across the globe, thousands of casualties, thousands of widows/widowers, mothers/fathers, families who lost their loved ones, and many more who came home physically and mentally injured.
At St. Mary the Virgin South Hill, the little church with a big heart, Remembrance Day is always commemorated. The photos below show the veterans and the congregation at the Remembrance Sunday.
The Colour Party came forward to deposit the Colours by the altar.
The words read by Rev. Expedito Farinas were loud and clear: “They shall not grow old, as we that 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.”
The Last Post was played followed by two minutes of silence and the haunting notes of the Reveille (Rouse).
Grefa Pinera, the Rector’s Warden, and one of the veterans carried a wreath each and placed them by the altar.
The children of the congregation came forward and offered red roses in front of the two Honour Rolls in the church.
Near the end of the service, Rev. Farinas gathered the veterans by the memorial alter to light the candles and pray for those who served and died. The Colour Party marched to retrieve the Colours from the altar at the end of the service.
Remembrance Sunday ended with the veterans joining the congregation at the hall for fellowship and food.###
Photo credits: St. Mary the Virgin South Hill-Anglican Church