Pakenham commemorates Remembrance Day

Officer Secondary College students Angela Silvestre, Jay West, David Mulenga and Mikaela Senior. 200522_05.

By Jessica Anstice

One minute of silence was observed in Pakenham on Monday to remember those who have fallen in conflict and the ending of the hostilities of World War One.

On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns fell silent. Four years of war had come to an end.

The Remembrance Day service at Pakenham’s cenotaph was led by Pakenham RSL president Brad McCann.

“It went well and the weather was extremely kind to us – we had about 150 people attend,” Mr McCann said.

“It’s not as big as ANZAC Day because it’s the end of the war. It’s when the guns fell silent after four years so it’s about peace.”

Representatives of local service clubs, dignitaries, and schools, were invited to lay wreaths below the cenotaph, followed by the familiar red poppy, the emblem of Remembrance Day, which placed around the cenotaph by the general public.

After the ceremony, about 100 people attended the Pakenham Hall for morning tea.