Members of the community are invited to honour the lives of those who helped protect Canada’s rights and freedoms with the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony on Nov. 11.
Joey Cyr, the sergeant at arms for Cochrane’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 15 Men of Vision, explained that the ceremony will take place at the Cochrane Cenotaph along First Street and 5th Avenue, near the Cochrane Legion.
“The ceremony usually starts around 10:45 a.m., then we will have a moment of silence at the 11th hour,” Cyr said.
He added that the area surrounding the cenotaph will be closed off for the ceremony.
“Memorial Way, which is located directly to the front of the Legion, will be all closed off,” he explained. “Portions of 4th St. and 5th St. will also be closed off, as well as First Street between 4th and 5th [Ave.].
“They’ve all been permitted to be closed off so that way people can come gather, bring their families, and they don’t have to worry about any vehicle interference.”
Cyr said several parties from Cochrane and the surrounding area will be in attendance for the event, adding that local leaders will also be laying wreaths in commemoration of Remembrance Day.
“There will be a drill ceremony that will take place, so I will be leading a couple of other parties starting down Memorial Way, and then we’ll walk down First Street to the cenotaph, and then the ceremony starts,” Cyr said. “The ceremony itself usually runs about 45 minutes, and there will be quite a bit of wreaths being laid.”
Following the ceremony, Cyr said everyone is welcome to visit the Legion for a warm meal, and the opportunity to connect with members of the Cochrane Legion.
“There’s an opportunity to come and actually sit with members of the legion, as well as veterans,” he said. “So, it’s a great opportunity for people to come in and bring their families, and get to know what the legion is about and what it represents, as well as have some great food.”
With every Remembrance Day ceremony, Cyr believes that it is very fantastic to see the continuous and overwhelming support from the community.
“It’s very emotional every single year because more and more people tend to show up and commemorate what it was to be serve,” he said. “As a veteran, it’s very meaningful.
“It’s very overwhelming and our gratitude is always there because without our community, we can’t do the at things that we do, and we can’t be as involved as we are. We are forever grateful for that.”
