Burlington’s branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Burl-Oak Naval Veterans have organized Remembrance Day events to which all residents of Burlington are invited this Friday, Nov. 11.
First off is the Sunrise Ceremony, which will take place at the Royal Canadian Naval Ships Memorial Monument in Spencer Smith Park from 9 a.m. until around 9:40 a.m. The memorial commemorates the ships and men lost during WWII: the Royal Canadian Navy’s 31 warships and 2024 naval personnel and the Canadian Merchant Navy’s 75 ships and 1466 merchant seamen, making a fitting location for the Burl-Oak Naval Veteran Group’s annual ceremony.
The service includes a colour party, and wreath laying; the Last Post will be played and there will be comments from the Reviewing Officer. Local, provincial, and federal dignitaries will be present, as will representatives from local veteran organizations.
Next is the Remembrance Day Procession, which begins at downtown Burlington’s Central School on Baldwin Street. The procession will go south on Brant St., then wind around Elgin St., Locust St., and Ontario St., to end at the Cenotaph on the north side of City Hall, in Veteran Square.
The Cenotaph commemorates 39 men who fell in battle during WWI from Burlington and Nelson Township, 43 who fought and died in WWII, and Korean war veterans. In addition to the names of these local heroes, there stands atop the column a solid bronze statue of a Canadian soldier attired in WWI battle dress. The Remembrance Day service is conducted each year at the Cenotaph by Branch 60 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The service includes a colour guard, and a moment of silence; those in attendance will listen to the Teen Tour Band and In Flanders Field to mark the occasion and honour those who served, many of whom gave their lives for our country, our city, our present and future. While this year’s service is in-person, those who wish to attend virtually can watch the livestream from 10:45 a.m., courtesy of the Royal Canadian Legion.
To read Ralph Benmergui’s editorial for Remembrance Day 2021 in Local-news.ca, click here.
