Westmount's military sacrifices remembered

Among the dignitaries at the commemoration for the country’s war dead were Mayor Peter Trent with members of city council, Westmount-Ville Marie MP Marc Garneau, and Westmount-St. Louis MNA Jacques Chagnon.

The service began shortly after 2 p.m. with the hymn, 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past', followed by scriptural readings and prayers by Rabbi Leigh Lerner, spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom, and Pastor Yves Guillemette of Église St. Léon.

Sherbrooke Street was closed between Kensington and Clarke avenues for a military parade that included members of the Royal Montreal Regiment, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They made their way past a reviewing stand after the ceremony.

Commemorative wreaths were laid at the base of the Cenotaph by representatives of the Canadian and Quebec governments, the Borough of Westmount, the Third Field Engineers Regiment, the 712th Communications Squadron, the Westmount Park Scouts and others.

Until recent years, Trent attended the Remembrance Day service attired in military regalia as the honorary colonel of the Westmount-based RMR. Since last year, he no longer holds the title. Elected mayor by acclamation last month, he wore the chain of office.

Remembrance Day now “has a very special meaning, even though it always did,” Trent said. “Our regiment, the RMR, currently has 14 soldiers over in Afghanistan, so this has a special meaning for our regiment.” \

Trent also noted that the RMR lost 1,192 men on the battlefield in World War I, “so we think back to 1914-1918 as well.” “It’s occasions like this that help us to focus on the real priorities in life and the fact we get to be concerned about local problems because of the sacrifices of the military,” said former city councillor John de Castell. “Freedoms are once again being challenged all over the world and the Canadian military has always had a proud role in peacekeeping.” “Traditionally we’ve been peackeepers and now we’re involved in a war that demands less peacekeeping and which is much tougher,” said Westmount Municipal Association board member Patricia Dumais. “Especially when you see someone close to you going off to war and wondering if they’re coming back and for what reason they’re going it really makes you think.”