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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A few noises made by young children were the only sounds heard as residents of Fort Simpson paused for a minute of silence on Nov. 11.

There was standing room only as more than 100 people gathered in the recreation centre in the village for a Remembrance Day ceremony that marked the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Members of the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment stand as Nolan Swartzentruber, left, leads the Remembrance Day service in Fort Simpson to the last post and the minute of silence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Today we have the right of freedom of speech, we have the right to congregate... It's because people gave their lives to give us those rights," said Nolan Swartzentruber as he led the service.

Those gathered in the room were asked to remember the men and women who gave their lives in the wars, those who returned and lived with their memories as well as local veterans and the troops currently serving in Afghanistan.

"Today we remember them all," said Swartzentruber.

In addition to a reading of the poem In Flanders Fields and Psalm 13, the service included personal reflections of the day.

For Tyrone Larkin, Remembrance Day commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in past conflicts, but it's also a time to think about the young Canadian soldiers currently fighting around the world.

The young men and women believe in what our country stands for and help in troubled places on the world stage, he said.

"They don't ask for thanks or commemoration, but I believe we owe it to them and that's why we're here today," Larkin told the gathered crowd.

Warrant Officer Eric Green of the Royal Canadian Regiment added to Larkin's sentiments. Green paused for a moment to gain his composure before beginning to speak.

"Soldiers do what we're told to do and we don't want nothing," said Green.

Having served in a number of countries including Somalia, Bosnia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Haiti and Afghanistan, Green has lost a number of comrades but all soldiers want in return is to make Canada a better place.

"We will take the sacrifices so that we can all be free," said Green.