Ladner will be anticipating more participants than ever before for this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
Al Ridgway, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 61, said organizing a larger event is much less complicated now that the COVID-19 restrictions have eased off.
“We are such a closely, tight-knit community that everybody likes to participate and remember those who have fallen and given their lives for all of us to be where we’re at,” Ridgway said.
Ladner’s Legion branch recently celebrated its 95th anniversary, and it has the largest membership in its history this year, with close to 1,200 members.
Meanwhile, three cadet squadrons have also confirmed a full group for each to participate in the parade.
The parade will be forming on Delta St. outside the Legion, with the Legion colour party leading off at 10:30 a.m. and the Delta Police Pipe Band following right behind.
The Cadet squadrons will march behind the participating veterans, followed by Scouts, Brownies, Girl Guide groups, Cubs and school kindergarten classes.
Delta Police, Delta Fire and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue will also join in.
The parade will march down Delta St. to the cenotaph at Memorial Park for the Remembrance Day Ceremony. However, due to the ongoing installation of new washrooms in Memorial Park, the stage and the choir group will have to move closer to the baseball field. The City of Delta will provide additional washrooms and cleaning facilities for the event.
The parade will return to the Legion around noon for a small gathering with the pipe band, as well as speeches from Mayor George Harvie, MP Carla Qualtrough, MLA Ian Paton, and other dignitaries. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be provided.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to join.
“We can see who’s there from all the previous skirmishes or anything else. We’re all in the military. While the groups are getting smaller and smaller all the time, we usually get a good group of people out to stand up to themselves,” Ridgway said.
