Strong turnout in Verona leads organizers to plan for next year

Craig Bakay | Nov 18, 2019

The future of Remembrance Day services at the McMullen Park Cenotaph in Verona appears set as more than 100 people gathered on Remembrance Day to honour the fallen.

At the luncheon in the Verona Free Methodist Church following the ceremonies, one of the organizers, Linda Bates, announced that they plan to keep up the tradition next year, although they may change the starting time to 11 a.m. from 10:45 a.m. to better accommodate students from Prince Charles Public School.

“We think it’s more important to have the students here than to observe the moment of silence right at 11 a.m.,” Bates said. “It’s important students know and understand why we do this.”

There was a strong contingent of students and staff from PCPS at this year’s ceremony, both in terms of actual numbers and active participation.

Kate Walker and Madison Brushette read In Flanders Fields and Willa Morton gave the reply. Brent Orser and Emily Casement laid a wreath for the school.

The school has a history of Remembrance Day ceremonies. For several years, Verona remembrances were held in the school gym before a group of volunteers and the Verona Community Association brought the service back to the Cenotaph in 2016.