Niagara-on-the-Lake’s clock tower cenotaph was looking more rejuvenated on the outside as hundreds were on Queen Street for the town’s annual Remembrance Day service on Monday.

The ceremony was attended by NOTLers and visitors alike and took place surrounding the semi-restored cenotaph, which began undergoing renovations in late October. 

Coun. Gary Burroughs told The Lake Report that the cenotaph is almost complete with external renovations but work on the inside has not yet begun.

“They took (the scaffolding) down so we could have the service,” he said. 

Burroughs said he is not sure if the scaffolding will go back up or not. 

“It was nice to have the service there and it was a terrific crowd, so it all worked out very well,” he said. 

Along with a peek at the new-and-improved cenotaph, the service featured words of remembrance from Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa along with other town officials and members of Legion Branch 124.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is deeply connected to the sacrifices made by Canadians during both world wars, he said during his speech.

“Our town has a unique and powerful connection to Canada’s military history,” he said. 

Over 600,000 troops were sent to Europe during the First World War and at the time, Camp Niagara became a training ground for the second division, Zalepa said. 

“Many of our residents recall stories of the early morning bugle calls, the Sunday church parades and the sight of soldiers marching down to the steamship dock or to the King Street train station,” he said. 

Zalepa recognized Lt. William J. Wright, a former principal of the Niagara High School in town who died in 1917 at Vimy during the attack on Hill 70.

Regional councillor Andrea Kaiser read the names of the fallen, followed by the annual wreath presentation from community members and organizations in honour of those who served. 

A similar ceremony followed at the Queenston Memorial Cenotaph at 1 p.m.