To honour and remember
Emery Village Remembrance Day 2021
By Sean Delaney
Crowds gathered at Emery’s Joseph Bannon Park Thursday, November 11, to observe, honour, and remember Canada’s fallen veterans along with those who continue to serve us today. The acknowledgment that all Canadians pay to our country’s veterans remained the same. We are all thankful for their sacrifices made and will never forget the gift of freedom.
In its ninth year, the service around the Joseph Bannon statue also welcomed the Bannon family, politicians, uniformed officers from 31 Division and BIA staff.
The poem “In Flanders Fields”, written by John McRae and originally published on December 8, 1915, was read by Emery Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board Chair Tim Lambrinos. The emotional reading was immediately followed by a moment of silence and the ceremonial playing of, The Last Post.
Once the gathering observed a moment of silence, Humber River - Black Creek MPP Tom Rakocevic had the honour of laying the wreath at the base of the Joseph Bannon statue. Ward 7 Councillor Anthony Perruzza, TDSB Trustee Christopher Mammoliti and TCDSB Trustee Ida Li Preti, all spoke passionately about the importance of Remembrance Day, some sharing stories of their own relatives that served during one of the World Wars.
Inspector Keith Smith of TPS 31 Division and a team of officers attended as well as Emery poet laureate Lawrence Hutchman, all helped make the gathering complete.
Tim Lambrinos, along with his sister Alice, took a few minutes to honour their Grandfather, Stewart Thibaudeau, who fought in WW1. In the October edition of the Emery Village Voice, Tim published a letter (www.emeryvillagevoice.ca/Yesterday-and-Today-October-2021) from his grandfather vividly describing the horrors he experienced one evening in France, at the height of the war. This story, and many like it, should be reflected upon on Remembrance Day to fully appreciate the offerings sacrificed in this worldwide cause.
And it was not just in giving one’s life for their country, but for having to endure the sheer horrors and living conditions that were part of the soldiers’ everyday lives all around the world.
Area MPP Tom Rakocevic spoke of his personal family connections and the horrors and emotional scars experienced by his relatives in Europe, many of whom had to endure the Holocaust. He told of family members never seen again, and the need to remember all victims of war.
“Honouring the memories of all those slain is a reflection that may help ensure that war never happens to Canada again”.
Joseph Bannon Park is dedicated to the memory of one of Emery Village’s community champions. Born in Scotland in 1919, Joseph Bannon enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and, in 1944, was part of the invading Canadian Forces that landed at Juno Beach on D-Day. Bannon’s direct descendants continue to attend every November 11th to help honour the local hero.
The Emery Village BIA expressed gratitude for the community turnout and would like to thank everyone in attendance for sharing such a meaningful moment remembering those who gave their lives as well as those who continue to serve in the Canadian Forces. The BIA looks forward to seeing everyone again next year.