Sylvan Lake’s main Remembrance Day service takes place inside at the multiplex again this year.
Please arrive early on Monday (Nov. 11), encouraged organizers. Those attending are asked to be seated by 10:30 a.m. when the service will begin with a march on of colours followed by Veterans, Legion and Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary members, Canadian Forces, RCMP, civilian police, fire and EMS, Cadets, members of Sylvan Lake Scouting and Girl Guide groups.
Several young people are involved in this year’s service. Besides those reading the scriptures, the winners of last year’s Legion Literary contests, Kirstynn Joseph and Derek Penman, will read their submissions.
Following the service, lunch will be served at the Legion, preceded by a short program of presentations. Then there’s a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park at 2 p.m.
Across from the Legion, in the town parking lot, will be the It’s An Honour! mobile exhibit which will be open for people to view from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (see separate story).
But before the service even takes place, a lot of volunteers are involved in other Veterans’ Week and Remembrance activities.
The Poppy Campaign began on Oct. 25 with volunteers dropping off trays of poppies at participating businesses. Among those involved were Laverne Asselstine, Marie and Roy Mattson, Bryan Lambertson, Bob Hamelin, Linda Nye, Wayne Sundell, Joe Brink, Percy Bryant, Edie and Joe Dracek, Bonnie King, Myrna Gorsalitz, Kendall Currie, Evelyn Crawford and Dodie Lineham. The same group volunteers have also been canvassing businesses for donations and to provide wreathes or crosses.
Crosses were placed on the graves of veterans at Lakeview, Kuusamo, Burnt Lake and Alto Reste cemeteries last week by Bob Hamelin, Cliff Halvorson, Percy Bryant, Larry Neis, Warren Pubanz, Laverne Asselstine, Wayne Sundell and Gordon Graham.
Then in the days leading up to Nov. 11th, Legion and Ladies’ Auxiliary members dressed in their uniforms visited schools in Sylvan Lake, Poplar Ridge and Benalto as well as Sylvan Lake Lodge to participate in their Remembrance activities. Involved in this endeavour have been Evelyn Crawford, Sharon Graham, Barry Virtue, Wayne Coubrough, Larry Neis, Gordon Graham, Kathie Duncan, Butch Bouchard, Millie Little, Thelma Pauquette, Bob Hamelin, Muriam Jaffrey and Reta Coubrough.
A lunch is being held for Veterans and their spouses at the Sylvan Lake Legion branch today (Thursday) at noon.
Legion members will participate in a Poppy Blitz on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canadian Tire, Rexall Drugs, Sobeys, Sylvan Lake Value Drug Mart and Walmart. Those involved include Norm and Lorraine Salive, Durward and Kathie Duncan, Butch Bouchard, Ken McBlane, Wayne and Reta Coubrough, Jean Marriott, Rev. John Yoos, Evelyn and Bill Crawford, Shirley Pickering, Thelma Pauquette, Daisy and Cliff Halvorson, Muriam Jaffray, Joanne Jarvis, Marj Mellott, Linda Clark, Don Clancy, Laverne Asselstine, Larry Neis, Joyce Ilcisin, Jim and Susan Banting, Rob and Linda Nye and Jim and Gerri Stewart.
Funds raised through the Poppy Campaign are kept in a separate trust account and may be used to assist any person who is serving or has honourably served in the Canadian Forces and their families who are in need of assistance. This may include providing personal comforts for Veterans and their widows/widowers who are hospitalized or in long term care facilities, post-secondary education bursaries for children and grandchildren of veterans, prizes for the Remembrance Literary and Poster contest winners, and donations to Cadet Corps, said chairperson Sharon Graham.