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Wreaths are laid at the cenotaph in Swift Current's Memorial Park Friday morning

 

 

Friday, Canadians from coast to coast paused to honour those who fought for our freedom.

We took to the streets to gather your thoughts on what Remembrance Day means to you.
 
 

Two Remembrance Day services were held in Swift Current, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, followed by the larger service at the Comprehensive High School over the 11:00am hour.

 

Bev Pratt, Poppy Chairperson for the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, says they had a very good crowd for the smaller service, adding that for some people, the Cenotaph is the place to be for the service.

 

She adds it's always important for the city to take time to remember our fallen soldiers, and that Remembrance Day will have a strong significance for Canadians in the future.

 

 

Pratt adds they have had a tremendous response for their Poppy campaign this year, saying she believes the total donations will be higher than those collected in 2010.

 

In addition, Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer used Remembrance Day to unveil a new permanent tribute to our fallen soldiers. During the main service at the Comp High School, Schafer announced that part of the Highway 4 bypass in the city's northeast will be re-named Memorial Drive.

 

Highlights from Friday's Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph:

 

 
The Provincial Government is honouring our fallen soldiers this Remembrance Day. Earlier this week, the stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Regina and Moose Jaw was re-named "Saskatchewan's Highway of Heroes", which will serve as a tribute to Saskatchewan soldiers who fought and died to preserve our freedom. Regina and Moose Jaw played a key role during the second world war as both cities were home to the Air Training Program and an active military presence still remains today.

Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz laid a wreath yesterday morning at the Saskatchewan War Memorial on the Legislative Grounds, as part of the government's annual service of remembrance. 
 
The Canadian military today marked its final Remembrance Day in Kandahar. Defence Minister Peter MacKay joined about a thousand soldiers who are packing up equipment after Canada's combat mission ended last July.

MacKay read aloud the names of the 158 Canadian military personnel who died in the Afghan mission. He said the reading of each name pierced "the heart of a family to have lost a loved one'' in Afghanistan.

Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper were among the dignitaries at today's main Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. Johnston says Canadian military personnel are among society's most respected people because they're are motivated by a sense of service, and not by material reward.

Almost 115,000 Canadians died in the two world wars, the wars in Korea and Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping missions.