Crandall Honours Fallen War Heros, By Matt Goerzen

CRANDALL — The tiny village of Crandall celebrated its 125th year by honouring the community's war dead in a special ceremony yesterday morning.
Former residents and their families came from across the country and braved rainy weather to watch the unveiling of a new plague bearing the names of the 10 servicemen from the community who made the ultimate sacrifice in the First and Second World Wars.
Years ago, Crandall's war heroes had been included on a memorial created by the RM of Miniota that listed soldiers from all over the municipality, but it was far removed from the community itself.
A cenotaph erected by the Crandall Women's Patriotic Society more than 80 years ago had been dedicated to the community's heroes of the First World War, but the individual names of the war dead had not been added, until now.
"We decided last year that we'd like to honour these men by putting their names on the Crandall cenotaph," event cochair Ted Andrew said.
"I can remember as a young person walking and hiking by this cenotaph. My principal made us eminently aware of the meaning of this cenotaph. And though it's weathering, it will be here for a long time to come."
Among those in attendance at the ceremony were several members of the Royal Canadian Legion, the RCL Ladies Auxiliary, an RCMP officer who grew up in Crandall, and three members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets of 317 Strathclair.
The morning included a reading of "In Flanders Fields," the laying of wreaths and the playing of "The Last Post" and "Reveille."
Crandall is located approximately 86 km northwest of Brandon.