Cadets stand vigil through the night in honour of veterans ahead of Remembrance Day

Cadets exchanged positions at the New Hamburg Cenotaph on Nov. 10, rotating every 15 minutes to maintain the overnight vigil in honour of Canada’s fallen soldiers. Julia Paul photo

By Julia Paul

As the cold settled over the cenotaph in downtown New Hamburg on Monday night, local air cadets stood in silent rotation, keeping watch in honour of those who served.

The overnight Cenotaph Vigil, held by the 822 Tutor Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets, began at 8 p.m. on Nov. 10 and continued through the night, ahead of the community’s Remembrance Day ceremony. It marked the squadron’s second year conducting the vigil in New Hamburg after several years of doing so at the Central Park-Preston Cenotaph in Cambridge.

“This was our second year here after many years in Preston,” said Capt. Douglas Gibbons, the squadron’s commanding officer. “We were honoured to bring the vigil to New Hamburg and to support the local Legion and veterans.”

The youth participants, aged 12-18, took turns standing guard in 15-minute shifts beside the cenotaph. Gibbons said the experience is meant to give cadets a sense of connection to the veterans they are commemorating.

“Basically, we are honouring our veterans and currently serving members,” he said. “It was symbolic of the sacrifices they made for family, friends and for the rule of law. Standing there in the cold and the wet gives our cadets a small sense of what those men and women endured.”

While the vigil took place in New Hamburg, about 70-80 cadets stayed overnight at another location, resting between their shifts. Gibbons said the cadets would also participate in the Remembrance Day service and parade the following morning.

For the cadets, the vigil represented both discipline and gratitude. Warrant Officer First Class Moore, one of the senior cadets overseeing the watch, said the experience was deeply meaningful.

“With cadets specifically, it’s a huge pride thing,” Moore said. “We are proud of Canada, proud of our veterans and proud to be part of an organization that works so closely with the Canadian Armed Forces. Having the opportunity to stand at the cenotaph all night and pay our respects is such an honour.”

Moore said the event offered a rare opportunity for youth to participate in remembrance in a tangible way.

“Not many people got to do this,” Moore said. “It felt like we were making an impact in Canada’s remembrance celebrations.”

Gibbons said the community response had been positive and that he hopes the vigil will continue to grow in coming years.

“We are just privileged to have the opportunity to support the New Hamburg Legion and the veterans and serving members of this community,” he said.

Moore added that awareness was also part of the goal.

“I hope that by standing at the cenotaph, people would see what we were doing and ask questions about why we were there,” Moore said. “I just want more people to know what we are about and why we remember.”

As midnight approached, the cadets continued to stand at their post – quiet silhouettes under the streetlights – keeping faith with the generations who stood before them.