Remembrance Day services attracted large crowds at cenotaphs in Aldergrove, Langley City and Fort Langley.

And while the number of survivors of the two great wars is falling, crowds drawn to the Nov. 11 ceremonies are growing.

At least 3,000 attended the service in Aldergrove. Joining the march to the Legion were 110 Mission Support Service men and women, based in Cold Lake, Ab., who are currently taking part in Olympic security exercises at the former navy base in Aldergrove.

Warren Sommer, who helped organize the service in Fort Langley, told the crowd of 3,500: “Today’s attendance and participation is nothing short of astounding.”

There were several highlights, not least of which was the singing of Souls of the Past, a stirring song written and composed by Langley Fine Arts School student Kyle Marsh, and his mother Carolyn. It was sung by Kyle’s friends who also attend LFAS.

Gordy Gillard, whose dismay at finding no ceremony on Nov. 11, 1999 led to the first organized service a year later, was clearly pleased at the huge turnout in Fort Langley.

Master Cpl. David Scrivens of the New Westminster Regiment gave the address. Scrivens is the son of former Township district fire chief Mike Scrivens, who died in February, 2008, at about the time David was deployed to Afghanistan.

In Langley City, the service was especially meaningful as it marked the last at the Eastleigh Crescent location.

The Legion has sold the property and will move to an existing building on 56 Avenue while the cenotaph will be relocated to Spirit Square.

The services marked the 91st anniversary of the end of the First World War.

See a video of the Langley City service at www.langleytimes.com.