Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Remembrance Day Ceremony

On This Remembrance Day - Take the time to remember those who helped protect our values, and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

This was the script I created for our service at school. If you need something for a later ceremony. Please use this, with my permission. The prayers from from the Canadian Armed Forces Chalpaincy Manual.

INTRODUCTION

SPEAKER # 1

Good morning. We come together today to remember in faith all who have served, and continue to serve in our armed forces, and especially those who have died and were wounded in battle. We also pray for healing and lasting peace; that one day, all peoples will lay down their arms and embrace one another as brothers and sisters in one human family.


OPENING PRAYER

SPEAKER # 2

Let us begin with an opening prayer: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord God, you fashioned each of us in your divine image and likeness, to live in the communion you share as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Be with us as we reflect and pray this morning. May this gathering, together with Remembrance Day thoughts and prayers everywhere, help move our world one step closer to the peace of your Kingdom. We make this prayer to you through Jesus Christ,

Amen.

LEST WE FORGET

SPEAKER # 3

Each and every year, we come together on November 11 to show our respect for those that have come and gone. We wear a poppy to show our support. Each and every year and say, “Lest We Forget.” But what does that truly mean?

It means we must never forget the past, and the sacrifices that were made to bring us to where we are today. This means we must remember the nearly 104,000 Canadians who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country; the close to 230,000 who were wounded, and the countless veterans who struggle with non physical wounds each and everyday.

SPEAKER # 1

This past year marked a number of significant anniversaries and milestones in our country's military heritage. Such occasions are commemorated to ensure the sacrifices and achievements of those who served in times of war, military conflict and in peace support operations are recognized within the social context of the personal freedoms enjoyed by all Canadians in today's society.

This year marked:

  • The 100th Anniversary of the 2nd Battle of Ypres, where Canadians faced the first use of poison gas in war
  • The 100th Anniversary of the Writing of the poem In Flanders Fields,
  • The 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign
  • The 70th Anniversary of the End of World War Two;
  • and The 65th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Korean War.

SPEAKER # 2

The act of remembrance is not merely ceremonial. At it’s core, remembrance requires action. It carries the promise that we will learn from our mistakes. By ensuring that we remember the past, we can help make a better and brighter future possible. So today, as we remember our fallen, we must remember that they fought for a better world; one free of evil. They sacrificed their lives in hopes that tyranny in this world would end.


In the words of Rudyard Kipling;

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Highway of Heroes - MP3 - 4 Mins (Play perhaps 2 min of song)


SPEAKER # 3

Now a reading of the poem which celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year, written by John McCrea, in May of 1915 near Ypres, Belgium.


IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


SPEAKER # 1

Following the Last Post - Let us pause for two minutes of silence as we remember all who have served to help bring peace to our world and God’s promise of peace.


LAST POST - MP3 - 1 Min 30 sec.
2 MINUTES OF SILENCE
ROUSE - MP3 - 30 seconds

SPEAKER # 2

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

SPEAKER # 3

CLOSING PRAYER

O God our Father, we thank you for those valiant hearts, who at the call of Sovereign and country laid down their lives in the cause of freedom. we pray that we may uphold the torch entrusted to us so that their sacrifice may not have been in vain. Unite all the peace loving peoples of our world in one holy purpose to defence the principles of freedom for which these valiant hearts lived and died. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. In the name of the great Prince of peace, we pray.

O' Canada - MP3 - 1 Min 12 sec.

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