[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he observance of Remembrance Day culminated on Sunday, November 14, 2016 with the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League Reunion. The event which took place at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence at Vigie was attended by Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives Honourable Ezechiel Joseph addressed the gathering on behalf of Prime Minister Honourable Allen M. Chastanet.
During the ceremony a minute of silence was requested in acknowledgment of the passing of Commonwealth Ex-Service league member Mr. Reginald Dudley of Piat’s Gap, Castries. He passed away on Saturday, November 12, at 90 years old.
While delivering brief remarks, Dame Pearlette commended the current members of the League for the high level of devotion and fortitude demonstrated every year despite the advancing age of members. Most of the members are octogenarians and some are over 90 years of age.
Meantime, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives Honourable Ezechiel Joseph called on the citizenry to use such occasions as opportunities for reflection on the price paid for freedoms that are now being taken for granted.
The Acting Prime Minister said: “In the current world we live in we certainly take our freedoms for granted. There are so many distractions; so many things that occupy our time. We go along living our lives not giving a second thought to why we are here, how we got here and the history that caused us to have the freedoms we enjoy today. We forget our past; we don’t take time to read the books about our history and we lose sight of who we are as a people and what our place is in the world. Seeing you here and going through the ceremony today is a stark reminder of the battles that were fought and the sacrifices which were made in those very dark days”
Prior to the Reunion Ceremony, the Remembrance Day wreath-laying exercise was carried out at the Derek Walcott Square, the George V Park and at the Choc Cemetery. The Governor General Dame Pealette Louisy, Acting Prime Minister Honourable Ezechiel Joseph, the leader of the Opposition Honourable Philip J. Pierre, the Commissioner of Police Mr. Severin Monchery, members of Diplomatic Corps and the members of the Royal Commonwealth Ex- Service League were among those who participated in this year’s wreath-laying exercise.
Tribute to the veterans and fallen soldiers of World War I and World War II begin on 03rd, November 2016 with the well-known Poppy Appeal.
Meantime, President of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League Mr. Haynes Cyril, SLMH (Saint Lucia Medal of Honour) said the League is now focused on continuity and passing on the baton to the next of kin of members so that the commemoration of the two international anniversaries will go on.
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