By TERRY PUGH
Several young men from the Duck Lake area who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War were honoured with a special tribute during the community’s annual Remembrance Day service November 11.
The personal stories of local air force pilots and crew members were read during the service in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the RCAF. The tribute included a reading of the poem, ‘High Flight’ by John Gillespie Magee Jr., a young pilot who was killed in action during the war.
The ceremony, which attracted about 130 people, also paid tribute to the late Omer Ranger, a former Duck Lake Legion President whose funeral was held November 7. Ranger was the originator of the Legion branch’s annual Poppy Campaign, which distributes approximately 20,000 poppies to schools and businesses in several communities including Rosthern, Warman and Martensville.
Rosthern RCMP Sergeant Aaron Kading and Constable Vincent Leblanc-Leduc provided the colour guard, and wreaths were laid honouring local veterans. Legion branch President Denis Poirier led the service, with a prayer by Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Priest Father Roger Paponette. The Last Post was played by guest trumpeter Grant Alexander.