Across Central Lambton, communities stopped to remember those who served Canada during wartime.

In Petrolia; dozens of wreaths were laid at the foot of the Petrolia Cenotaph Sunday in Victoria Park as part of Remembrance Week. Politicians, family of veterans and those who died and local businesses paid tribute to those who served in the ceremony which lasted more than an hour. The Petrolia Legion will host the Act of Remembrance at the cenotaph Friday at 10:45 am.

In Camlachie; residents paused to remember the eight people from their community who died in wars around the globe. About 150 people walked from the community centre to the cenotaph, stopped to observe the moment of silenced, watched as the COPA Flight 7’s 403 Honour Flight few overhead and laid wreaths in honour of those who had given the ultimate sacrifice. The Wyoming Legion helps the Huron Shores Optimist with the annual remembrance. The Wyoming Legion will be hosting another service Nov. 11 at 10:45 am at the cenotaph on Erie Street.

In Florence; about 40 people paused Sunday to remember those who served Canada during wartime. The Thamesville Legion branch normally organized the event however as members age, the branch stepped away from the extra service this year. Dawn-Euphemia firefighters stepped up to provide a time for the community to reflect with Rev Bruce Cook of the Shetland United Church. He spoke about the Newfoundland Regiment which was decimated in the battle of Beaumont-Hamel. Veteran’s Affairs says “The losses sustained by the Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916, were staggering. Of the some 800 Newfoundlanders who went into battle that morning, only 68 were able to answer the roll call the next day, with more than 700 killed, wounded or missing. The dead included 14 sets of brothers, including four lieutenants from the Ayre family of St. John’s.” Cook says before the British began using the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, the people in Newfoundland put three blue forget-me-not together to mark the horrific loss each year.