Members of the generation of peace need to keep in touch with the veterans of war in order to keep alive the reality of their sacrifice in the two world wars and the Korean War, the audience at the Weyburn Legion's Remembrance Day service was told on Saturday.

The guest speaker was Capt. Laurie Kannetiesser, who is stationed with the Canadian Armed Forces in Winnipeg; her grandfather, Fen Cooper of Weyburn, is a veteran of the 8th Canadian Field Squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineers in the Second World War.

Prior to the service, a parade of veterans, Legion members, police, cadets, Scouts, Guides and other members of the community marched from Fourth Street to Third, and up to the cenotaph under a clear, cold sky. The wind stayed down to help make the weather bearable for the ceremony, which took about 45 minutes altogether and was well-attended.

Observers watched as the Last Post was played, a two-minute period of silence was held and wreaths were laid at the cenotaph by veterans, War Mother Wilhelmina Wilson, government representatives, and by community groups, organizations and businesses.

In her speech, Capt. Kannetiesser related how as a member of the 1960s and 70s "generation of peace," she has no memories or experiences of the kind of sacrifices that were made in wartime. Both of her parents were in the Armed Forces, and she joined the forces in 1989.

"We all felt we were safe from the spectre of another war, but I remember every year we'd be herded down to the cenotaph for Remembrance Day. I remember gazing at the long lists of names of those who served. I knew they were lost in war but I really didn't know what that meant," she said.

She noted there have been more than 1.5 million Canadian men and women who served in the three major conflicts of the 20th century ­ the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War ­ and of those, 115,000 never returned home. In the Weyburn area, many young men signed up with the South Saskatchewan Regiment which formed part of the Second Canadian Division in World War Two; by the end of the war there were close to 500 casualties in the SSR alone.

Capt. Kannetiesser said some of her colleagues have served as peace keepers in Kosovo, Bosnia, Rwanda and East Timor, and are able to relate to the kind of sacrifices made by the soldiers in the earlier wars.

"My colleagues feel an affinity to the veterans and feel a deep sense of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice," she said.

She first came to Weyburn last year, and after the Remembrance Day service sat in the Legion Hall with her grandfather as he related some of his experiences in the war with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He served in England, France and Germany from 1942-46, until he was injured by a remnant of war.

"Grandpa Cooper put a human face on the war, a human face I had been seeking. I know he's typical of many of those whose names are etched in granite across the country. They left home and families and endured unspeakable horrors so we enjoy our freedom. I'm very grateful for them all," said Capt. Kannetiesser.

She urged younger people to seek out the veterans, to thank them for what they did and to also hear about some of their experiences in war, so their stories can be passed down to new generations.

In the remarks made earlier in the service, Ray Bailey, speaking on behalf of his brother, MP Roy Bailey, said he was happy to see some younger people in the audience. He has spoken in schools about Remembrance Day, and said more of this has to be done.

"There's a moral aspect in teaching our young people what went on before, during and after the war," he said.

MLA Brenda Bakken said the services also paid tribute to those who came home, and who made sacrifices to serve for their country.

"You upheld values of courage, love of family and love for your country. You were willing to serve without knowing what lay ahead or if you would return," she said.

Speaking on behalf of city council, Coun. Mike Pickering said Canadians have been left a legacy of peace by those who fought in the wars, and "in return our veterans only ask that we remember their fallen comrades. Each year, Remembrance Day captures a snapshot of military history, of men and women who put their lives on the line so we might have peace."

Most of us have never heard a shot fired in anger in wartime, he added, so the stories of our veterans need to be passed on to the younger generations to maintain that peace into the future.