Hundreds gathered along Milltown Boulevard in St. Stephen on Saturday for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

It was a chance for residents in the border town to pay their respects to veterans, military members, and first responders.

Chaplain Wayne Spires of Royal Canadian Legion St. Croix Branch 9 said seeing so many people in attendance was fantastic.

“The general public in our area here really are very supportive of the Legion and Remembrance Day because many of them have family members that served in either the First World War, Second World War, Korea, and even modern-day events today,” Spires said in an interview after the ceremony.

“We try to remember that those that are serving are doing it for a purpose. The purpose is to keep us free.”

Several local dignitaries laid wreaths during the ceremony, including Mayor Allan MacEachern on behalf of the Municipal District of St. Stephen, Saint Croix MLA Kathy Bockus on behalf of the people of New Brunswick, and Sgt. Scott MacKenzie on behalf of the RCMP.

Several other wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph before the Saturday morning ceremony began at around 11 a.m.

Many who attended Saturday morning’s ceremony were young people, which Spires said is always great to see.

“This is the part of Remembrance Day that everyone wants to be part of because everyone has something to remember,” said Spires.

A ceremony also took place at the Milltown Cenotaph at the corner of Queensway Way and Church Street.