Great Remembrance Day service in Duncan
What an incredible ceremony today at Duncan’s Cenotaph. I was moved on so many counts; the incredible poetry readings by a 96-year-old vet, the turn-out of so many people, of all ages, the beautiful weather and the unexpected reading from T.W. Paterson’s book COWICHAN Goes to WAR 1914-1918, about our Great Uncle Lt. James Douglas Hodding who died at age 17 in WWI. Our grandfather Lt. Commander Vyvyan Hodding, Douglas’s younger brother, was 14 when he enlisted, having lied about his age. My bother and I were surprised and very humbled to have our ancestor remembered like that. Thank you to Jim for such an eloquent reading and thanks to T.W.
I would also like to remember and thank the present day soldiers who fight now and are ready to go when called and I would especially like to give a big salute to the young cadet who went down at the end of the gathering, after standing guard, strong and true at the Cenotaph throughout the ceremony. It looked as though he was injured and required help from the paramedics, so to you too, I say thank you for your service.
Maureen Hodding
Duncan