Communities across Chatham-Kent will be honouring veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Doug McKenzie is the Royal Canadian Legion’s A3 Zone Commander, covering 10 legion branches across Chatham-Kent, and says he is grateful for the community’s support at this time of year.
“There’s been a lot of veterans that have passed away since last year and we really appreciate the community stepping up and helping us with regards to the Poppy Campaign,” McKenzie says. “It’s all for the gentlemen that have passed away, that’s who we’re doing this for. We just have to keep that education out there at the high schools and every school.”
McKenzie says the more distance there is from major international conflicts, the more important Remembrance Day becomes.
“There’s so many of our WWI and WWII veterans that have passed away. Afghanistan fellas, they come back and they’re really messed up, unfortunately. We’ve been trying to get them to come in (to the Legion) but they just want to be left alone.”
A number of visual reminders of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice have been added in communities across Chatham-Kent. Two new plaques now adorn the Chatham Cenotaph, honouring the history of the War of 1812 and the Battle of McGregor Mill, as well as the history of the Cenotaph itself. Officials with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 642 say in time, additional plaques will be added recognizing WWI, WWII, and other armed conflicts in which Chatham-Kent residents took part.
More Veterans Crosswalks have been installed in numerous communities, including Wallaceburg, Dresden, Tilbury, and Erieau.
Remembrance Day parades and memorial services are being held across Chatham-Kent hosted by branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Blenheim: A parade forms at the Legion at 10:30 a.m., marching to St. Mary’s Hall.
- Bothwell: A parade forms at Zone Township Central School at 10:45am with a parade to the Cenotaph on Main Street for an 11am service.
- Dresden: A procession will form at the Station 6 Fire Hall at 10:30, march to the Cenotaph for a service at 11am.
- Erieau: A service will begin at 2pm at the Veterans Memorial Garden.
- Merlin: A parade starts at the Legion at 10:30 a.m. and proceeds to the Merlin Community Hall for an 11 a.m. service.
- Ridgetown: A parade begins at the Legion and ends at the cenotaph, with a service starting by 11 a.m.
- Tilbury: A procession will make its way from the Legion to the Cenotaph at 10:40, followed by a service at 10:50.
- Wallaceburg: The Legion Branch #18 will host a service at 10:50 at the cenotaph.
- Wheatley: The parade participants meet at 10:15 a.m. at the United Church for a march to the Cenotaph for a ceremony at 10:45.
