For Remembrance Day, services are planned throughout Haliburton County to honour those who served.
“It’s a time when we remember and thank those who made sacrifices as part of the Canadian Army, which led to our freedoms today,” says Wendy Bolt, President of Minden Royal Canadian Legion Branch 636. “It’s a remembrance, and it should be done with honour and dignity. When we have our ceremony, the two-minute silence is a sacred part of the service, as individuals contemplate those that we may have known.”
According to Bolt, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the first United Nations peacekeeping mission, with Canadian peacekeepers still deployed around the world today. “There are more and more people that we’ll remember, those from our community who have served in other places, not just World War I, II, and the Korean War,” she says.
The Minden Legion will mark the day with a parade from the County Cairn starting at 10:30, followed by a full Remembrance Day service at 10:45, with a local Silver Cross Mother announced on the day.
“The Canadian way of life that we have and hold dear is because of the sacrifice of the people who went [to serve],” says Bolt. “Some of them didn’t come back. Some of them did come back but certainly came back changed. And we should never forget that, because we are very fortunate to live where we live.”
She adds that the Poppy Campaign is ongoing until Remembrance Day, and thanks the community for its participation. “The support that we get is fantastic, from all walks of life, and it is a great honour to be part of the campaign, to really see and hear about the support in the community.”
Several other services are planned for Nov. 11 around the county:
Cardiff
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 566 will host a march to its cenotaph at 10:45, followed by a full service and lunch at the Legion.
Gelert
- Legion Branch 441 will have a flag ceremony and service at the Gelert Cemetery, starting at 12:30.
Gooderham
- Branch 441 will then move to the Gooderham cenotaph at 2:00 for the same commemoration.
Haliburton
- Branch 129 will host a short service at the Legion at 10:00, followed by a parade to the cenotaph at 10:35, and a full service around 11:00. Members will parade back to the branch for a public lunch.
- On Nov. 10, the Legion will make the rounds at the Extendicare, Hyland Wood, and Gardens of Haliburton nursing homes, to visit veterans who cannot make it to a service.
Irondale
- Irondale Church has put up its annual Remembrance Day display with dozens of flags representing local veterans, as well as other wartime regalia.
Kinmount
- Branch 441’s full service starts at 11:00, followed by a march on the colours. A turkey dinner will be provided at the branch by the Ladies Auxiliary from 4:00 to 7:00.
Wilberforce
- Branch 624 will form up at 10:45 by its cenotaph for a full service. The Ladies Auxiliary will host a luncheon afterwards, with admission by donation.