The whole community is invited to participate in the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies Friday, Nov. 11.
The ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Gibraltar Room with the first service, says Cariboo Legion Zone Commander Vivian MacNeil, who is co-ordinating the activities and will be the master of ceremonies.
The service will begin with the singing of O’ Canada and words of welcome by MacNeil and Mayor Walt Cobb.
Sandra Abbott will read the names of the fallen in the First World War and Const. Taylor Callen will read the names of the fallen in the Second World War.
The Cariboo Men’s Choir will sing In Flanders Fields and Bring Him Home.
Legion Branch 139 President Joyce Norberg will read The Act of Remembrance.
This will be followed by one minute of silence and Reveille.
The Prayer of Remembrance will be given by Salvation Army Major Stephen French.
The Williams Lake Community Band will play The Old Rugged Cross.
The Gibraltar Room ceremonies conclude with the singing of God Save the Queen.
Following the Gibraltar Room the congregation will parade to the Cenotaph at city hall.
Capt. Phil Sullivan (retired) will be the parade commander and Sgt. Gordon Keener leads the colours. The parade will include representation from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 139, veterans, RCMP, fire departments, sea and army cadets, Scout and Girl Guide organizations and members of the public who wish to participate.
At the Cenotaph Grant Martin, retired Williams Lake RCMP Staff Sgt., will be the master of ceremonies. Renee Lozeau will open the ceremonies with the singing of O Canada.
At 11 a.m. The Last Post is given followed by two minutes of silence.
At the same time members of the Williams Lake Flying Club will fly over the ceremonies in the Missing Man Formation, MacNeil notes.
Williams Lake Pipe Band Major Bryan Underwood will play the lament, The Flowers of the Forest.
Grant Martin will give the Act of Remembrance.
MacNeil says this year’s Silver Cross Mother Mary Cornwall will lay the first wreath on behalf of all mothers.
A total of 25 wreaths are scheduled to be set at the Cenotaph by various government and community organizations.
The ceremony ends with Renee Lozeau leading in the singing of God Save the Queen.
The parade participants lead off the Cenotaph ceremony with eyes right and continue on to Legion Branch 139 hall at 385 Barnard Street.
There will be a brief service at the legion cairn which MacNeil says was the city’s original Cenotaph.
There will be hot dogs and hot chocolate in the downstairs hall for all of the children and youth participating in the ceremonies.
Upstairs MacNeil says there will be an afternoon of camaraderie starting with a marvellous potluck luncheon put on by the legion’s volunteer cooks and others donating to the event. The afternoon continues with live music by Mark Allen from 100 Mile House and The Perfect Match with Cindy Lightfoot and LeRae Haynes.
About 4:30 p.m. Save-On-Foods will be putting on a beef dip buffet, MacNeil notes.