The rain held up on St. Marys' first restriction-free Remembrance Day ceremony in two years. Mayor Al Strathdee led the ceremony featuring Veterans and elected officials reading passages and setting down wreaths and poppies at the town's Cenotaph.
St. Marys Coun. Rob Edney read And Death Should have no Dominion before Rev. Pirie Mitchell of the legion led the crowd in a prayer. Afterwards, In Flanders Fields was read by Keith Mitchell, representing MP John Nater's office. The MP laid a wreath at the Stratford service.
After a moment of silence, St. Marys Fire Chief Richard Anderson read New Heroes and Rev. Mitchell said the benediction before the laying of the wreaths in front of the cenotaph.
God Save the King and O Canada were sang by the crowd before Veterans and citizens alike were invited to lay their poppies on the wreaths.
Mayor Strathdee felt grateful that they were able to do a bigger ceremony this year, last year roughly 10 attendants gathered due to restrictions.
The Town's celebrations stretched over the week. The Royal Canadian Legion led a parade and ceremony on Sunday. The day before that volunteers placed Canadian flags on tombstones at the local cemetery.
Additionally, banners were hung on poles and lampposts across town depicting local veterans.