There were four silver cross mothers in attendance: Mary Griffin, Mrs. Boniface O’Hanley, Mrs. Olive Pratt, and Mrs. Ada MacLaren. Local clergy were in attendance as well as Lieutenant Governor Marion Reid. Guest speakers included service men from the Montague, Morell, and the St. Peters area Geraldine MacDonald, wife of the late Ronald MacDonald, an original member of the Historical Committee and WWII veteran unveiled the monument. {3)

CANADA REMEMBERS

This memorial ceremony took place in St. Peters on July 31“ 1994. This day, which many remember as “blistering hot" began with church service at St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, presided by the Reverend Father Francis Corcoran. Former Premier and MP and WWII war hero, J. Angus MacLean gave a speech at this service, which reflected on the wartime, and a few of own his personal accounts of his escape from Nazi— occupied Europe. In his memoirs Making it Home, Angus states that “one of the most memorable occasions for me was when I was asked to deliver a message at an ecumenical service in connection with the “Canada Remembers" commemorative event held at St. Peters Bay." (4) Part of his speech as delivered that day is also included in his memoirs:

Remembrance implies more than just remembering. It implies understanding and treasuring a great achievement. ..The hard—boiled wheeler-dealers of today probably think we were childishly naive. In some ways time has proven that we were. But we did not put our lives on the line for the sake of future generations lightly...I think we should always strive to be worthy of the sacrifices made for us. We should treasure the gift of life. We should not break faith with those who died. We should hold high the torch of honesty, justice, decency, compassion, and humility and be thankful for the good fortune bestowed on us by the sacrifices of the past. (5)

After the church service there was a parade from the Catholic Church to Quigley Memorial Hall, where the War Monument was unveiled. A Stadacona Naval Band, a twenty-thirty piece naval band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, led the parade. In attendance were various politicians, including Lieutenant Governor Marion Reid, Premier Catherine Callbeck, and the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay. Veterans were in attendance, one of whom was the last Victorian Cross recipient, smoky Smith, who was flown in from British Columbia. After the service in front of Quigley Memorial Hall, there was a fly pass made and according to Donnie Anderson, ‘The timing was perfect. The plane had flown over from Greenwood and flew over precisely as the ceremony ended.” (6)

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