We will remember them.
Many will remember the poem that encases those words but for the veterans whom they were written for, there are precious few left to stand by and salute their fallen companions. After two years of being forced to reduce, or outright stop, the D-Day memorial service due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 held their first open to the public service since 2019 on Sunday.
Joining Legion members and executive were representatives of The Pas Air Cadets, paramedics, local RCMP members and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary, taking part in a brief half-hour long ceremony that included a laying of wreaths at the cenotaph located at Lakeside Cemetery. In 2020 the number of people who could attend the ceremony was limited largely to family and loved ones and last year there wasn’t a ceremony at all as compliance with Covid-19 restrictions prevented it.
“I felt it went pretty good. I know everything was kind of catching up and getting back into routine so we should have done a little bit more to get more of the community out as well, but I’m glad we had our partners here,” explained Angie Nikolychuk, President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19.