Handcrafted poppies made by the Renfrew Legion Poppy Project hung in front of the Renfrew Legion | Mik Horvath/MBC
As Remembrance Day rounds the corner, Renfrew Legion Branch 148 has been busy within the community.
For example, they have been organizing and running Remembrance Day ceremonies in long-term care homes around Renfrew Victoria Hospital.
Branch 148 Public Relations Officer Debbie McDermid is anticipating a big turnout for the ceremony surround Renfrew’s cenotaph on Nov . 11.
McDermid said Renfrew’s public always endures the elements to honour their veterans.
Although Remembrance Day has a focus on WW1 and WW2, McDermid said it’s also important to recognize veterans who were stationed on later deployments such as in the Balkans, Cyprus and Afghanistan.
She said continuing to recognize this tradition not only brings together the community, but brings families closer together as well.
When families pass down these stories it continues to educate the youth about the heroic efforts achieved by Canada’s veterans, as well as the lessons learned of war.
Each year the Renfrew Legion organizes the National Remembrance Program, which kids in school compete by creating a poem, essay, poster, or video to represent the efforts of Canadian soldiers.
McDermid is very proud of what the youth have created and they continue to impress her year after year.
She said it’s important to recognize the history of Canada’s veterans’ efforts because people may discover they had a relative who served.
Supporting veterans is also important, the Renfrew Legion is a hub for veterans to gather and discuss their deployments, which McDermid said is crucial because nobody can quite fathom what it’s like to be a soldier other than a solider.
To keep services like the Renfrew Legion operational to support the local veterans, they’re always accepting volunteers with open arms.
Renfrew’s Remembrance Day ceremony will start at 11:00 a.m. in Low Square, with a march off leading from the Legion at 10:45 a.m.
(Written by Mik Horvath)
