The Battle of Vimy Ridge’s 99th Anniversary will be marked with a parade in Williams Lake on Saturday, April 9.
“The Cadet Canada movement with all three elements recognizes three distinctive battles in Canadian history,” said Lieutenant Bill Sheridan with the Cadet Instructors Guidery of the Canadian Forces during a presentation to city council Tuesday.
“Ours, for the Army Cadets, is Vimy Ridge as it was the only battle where every regiment in the Canadian Army fought along side by side with each other. Since then, even up to including Afghanistan, just recently, we have not achieved this ever again in our nation’s history.”
Sheridan said the parade will proceed from the back of the Gibraltar Room through the downtown and to the cenotaph in front of city hall, where members of the 3064 Rocky Mountain Rangers Army Cadet Corps, the RCMP and the Legion will honour those who fell and fought at Vimy Ridge.
They will lay wreaths and have a moment of silence.
Sheridan asked if the flags could be flown at half-mast outside of city hall on the day with the Union Jack flag flying, which was Canada’s flag at the time of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“I have a Union Jack flag I’d be willing to lend,” Sheridan said.
After the parade there will be a gathering at the legion.
Sheridan asked city council to recognize April 9 as Vimy Ridge Memorial Day in Williams Lake and encourage the community to participate in the parade.