Remembrance Day on Saturday, Here’s How to Commemorate in Harden
Harden RSL will hold a Remembrance Day Service at Newson Park Cenotaph on Saturday 11th November. People are asked to assemble at 10:50am for an 11:00am start. All members of the public are invited to attend and pay their respects on the morning. Tim O’Keeffe, Chairman of the Harden RSL Chapter, wanted to draw attention to the badge selling taking place tomorrow.
“We’re selling badges from 7:00am outside Ziems’ Butchers tomorrow. For the first time we’ll be having EFTPOS at the badge selling,” he said. “So many people are saying they don’t have cash and have to go away and buy something and come back with the change. This year we have it, so we’re hoping it brings in some more people. “It goes to supporting the Harden RSL Chapter of the Cootamundra Sub-Branch.”
On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting coinciding with 11am on 11 November 1918, when the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. It became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Remembrance Day after World War Two to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.
Tim O’Keeffe believes this history is alive and well in Harden, as proven by the small towns history in combat and the turn out the crowd normally receives on Remembrance Day. “It’s the normal service. We’ll start at 11:00 am and hopefully have a speaker representative of Council. “Even in small towns like this there were a lot of people who fell in battle. The sacrifices they made for the country should never be forgotten.”
Boorowa RSL Sub-Branch are holding a service at the Boorowa War Memorial at 10:45am followed by a diggers lunch at the Boorowa Ex-Services Club. Young RSL Sub-Branch are additionally holding a service at Anderson Park starting at 11:00am sharp.
We will remember them.
Jack Murray
