Captions: Top row, waiting in line to place a poppy; Warrant Officer Wayne Robinson places his poppy on the war memorial; third row, top right, Lou Balenovich pauses for reflection after pinning his poppy to the city’s wreath; bottom right, Betsy and Diane Warankie; bottom, City of Welland wreath./ Joe Barkovich photos.
WELLAND – Betsy Warankie read Lt.-Col. John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields while standing near the Welland-Crowland War Memorial.
It was at Monday’s Remembrance Day Community Commemoration Service in Chippawa Park.
She’s done it the past few years, carrying on a tradition started in 1997 by Jean-Luc Clin. He passed in 2018.
The way the story goes, after moving to Welland, Mr. Clin was saddened to find the cenotaph unattended on Remembrance Day. So he went about organizing a commemorative service, one that was simple and without speeches.
Monday, Warankie spoke briefly about Lt.-Col McCrae before the reading, describing him as a poet, physician, author, artist, soldier and surgeon. She also reflected on some history about his poem.
Then she read its 15 lines.
The impact was palpable.
This service is special to many because in addition to the reading, it brings CBC Radio’s live broadcast of the Remembrance Day service at the National War Memorial in Ottawa to the park.
How do you listen to the Piper’s Lament, Last Post, 21-gun salute and singing by the Ottawa Children’s Choir without being moved by the emotion and solemnity?
Heads lifted skyward as two Second World War-era planes flew overhead. One was a Lancaster, the other a B-25 bomber. They flew over services that were being held in other Niagara communities this storied day.
Sid Prentiss said he attended his first Community Commemoration Service last year. It was memories of that experience that brought him back this year, he said.
After Warankie finished the reading, people approached the Welland-Crowland War Memorial, placing poppies upon it or attaching poppies to a wreath in front of it. A lineup had formed quickly but no one minded having to wait for their turn.
Warankie stayed around a while longer, chatting with her sister Diane who was at her side.
She said she intends on being back for next year’s service, soldiering on in the footsteps of Mr. Clin.
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