There was a special commemoration of Remembrance Day in Springwater Township, honouring a small band of brothers from one small community.
They are the soldiers from the small community of Vespra who went off to fight in the First World War but never returned home.
Today the cenotaph at Springwater Provincial Park was rededicated to them, and every Canadian solider who never returned from a battlefield.
Today’s was a special and slightly different Remembrance Day ceremony from others being held across the country. After the Vespra Royal Canadian Legion closed in the ’50s, ceremonies haven't been held here.
This cenotaph was virtually forgotten about.
Wayne Cameron is with a group of residents who organized a small last-minute ceremony last year and made sure a proper ceremony was held today.
“I think it’s important to honour all cenotaphs are registered in Canada,” he says. “It’s in honour of all who fought for our freedom.”
Elisabeth Langley's father fought in the First World War and was the first president of the Royal Canadian Legion in Vespra. For years Langely feared there would never be a Remembrance Day ceremony here again. Today she was able to lay a wreath.
“It means a great deal for many,” she says. “I didn't know what became of it and when they closed the park my concern was what where they going to do with it.”
These students from Eastview Secondary School in Barrie not only read out the names of the Vespra Boys but also did some extensive research ahead of today’s ceremony. They discovered stories that will forever resonate.
“I really learned to appreciate what they did for our freedom,” says student Isaac Pearson.
Cole Walsh adds, “What surprised me the most was many lied about their ages so they could get to the front lines quicker.”
Now restored, the cenotaph stands as a symbol of remembrance Langley says should never be forgotten.
The Ministry of Natural Resources opened the park for today’s ceremony, after it was closed due to a lack of funding. The Friends of Springwater say they will continue to work with the ministry to make sure a Remembrance Day ceremony is held there every year.
