Commemorate Remembrance Day in Cowansville Saturday

Usually the Remembrance Day parade and ceremony takes place on the Sunday closest to Remembrance Day. Because Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday this year, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 99, in Cowansville, is moving the parade to the actual day. When it is not on the 11th, the ceremony happens in the afternoon, but because it is the 11th, the event will start to be underway at 10:30 so that the two minutes of silence can be at the eleventh hour.

Joining the members of Branch No. 99 will be a piper, complete in his kilt, and members from the RCMP, as well as the Air Cadets from the Massey-vanier Cowansville Unit and new this year, the Army Cadets and their band will be coming from Farnham.

Farnham no longer has an active branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. The Lions’ Club of Cowansville has often joined in the parade too.

After the parade, wreaths and crosses will be placed by families, friends, schools, churches, and businesses, and town council members at the cenotaph.

Over the years the number of spectators has varied, but this is the one day of the year when we can show support for the members of the various Canadian services who have served their country. The parade and ceremony will take place on Davignon Blvd. near the legion, behind Heroes’ Memorial School. Light refreshments will be served inside the legion after the ceremony.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOUISE SMITH Members of the RCMP walk alongside people as commemorative wreaths and crosses are laid at the cenotaph.

A special table is always laid out inside the legion to honour those men and women who do not return from service.

A piper and the Massey-vanier Air Cadets form part of the Remembrance Day Parade in Cowansville.