To the editor:
I was privileged last Tuesday to attend the Memorial Service at the Whitby Cenotaph.
On my way there driving along Dundas Street to the parking lot, I passed an Honour Guard of smartly turned out sea and air cadets bearing arms, proudly marching to take post around the memorial.
At that time the parade was just forming up outside the Canadian Legion on Byron Street prior to moving off to the parade site.
I walked back to the memorial and noted that the Honour Guard was in position, with a cadet at each corner standing rigidly to attention with the rifle in the traditional Reversed Arms and their heads bowed in respect for the fallen veterans.
The parade duly arrived and the service commenced with these young people standing so still that one had to look intently to see if they were actually breathing. At the termination of the service the participants and crowd departed and yet these youngsters held their pose, for over an hour by my calculation, regardless of the cool wind and a slight rainfall.
In my time I have seen many Honour Guards posted by different military commands in many different countries, the best being Her Majesty's Royal Marines, and this guard was on par with them.
My congratulations to them and their leaders. I'm sure their parents are justly proud of them. Would that more of our youth were involved with the cadet movement, for they would learn many things, such as mutual respect, self-esteem, good citizenship and little boredom.
G.G. Reed
Whitby
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