The public is encouraged to take part in the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies tomorrow, Nov. 11.
The ceremonies include opening tributes at the Gibraltar Room followed by a parade along Borland Street to the Cenotaph at City Hall for ceremonies and laying of wreaths of remembrance, followed by lunch and entertainment at the legion hall.
“We invite the community to march with us to the Cenotaph for the service and to the legion hall afterward for a sing-a-long and some camaraderie,” says Vivian MacNeil, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 139 zone commander, who will be leading the Gibraltar Room ceremonies.
Doors to the Gibraltar Room open at 9 a.m.
The colour party, organized by Colour Sgt. Gordon Keener, and veterans will assemble in the Gibraltar Room at 10 a.m.
The service will happen at 10:25 a.m. then participants will walk to the City Cenotaph for the traditional two-minute wave of silence at 11 a.m. and laying of wreaths.
Lorne Lazzarotto will lead the Cenotaph ceremonies.
MacNeil says members of the Williams Lake Flying Club will also make a pass overhead and have invited any of the First and Second World War veterans for a ride in one of their airplanes at a later time.
The parade commander this year is Cpt. (Rtd.) Phil Sullivan.
The Silver Cross mother is Debbie Freeman who will be accompanied by her son Tpr. Matthew Freeman, who is flying in especially to accompany her in laying the wreath on behalf of mothers everywhere who have lost children in war, MacNeil says.
For the first time in many, many years, MacNeil says they will have an air cadet joining the lakecity’s sea and army cadets posted at the four corners of the Cenotaph.
The air cadet is coming from Quesnel and some of the lakecity’s sea and army cadets will travel to Quesnel to participate in their ceremonies, MacNeil says.
Following the services all the participating youth are invited for lunch and refreshments in the lower legion hall.
The legion invites the adult public to the upper legion hall for lunch, fellowship and sharing of memories in the afternoon and evening.
MacNeil says Lerae Haynes will lead a sing-a-long in the afternoon, followed by music provided by the Old-Time Fiddlers.
The annual beef dip provided by Save On Foods begins at 4 p.m.