The Cloverdale Legion is encouraging businesses, schools, retirement homes, and everyone else to contact them if they would like to purchase a commemorative wreath for Remembrance Day.
The wreaths will be taken to Veterans’ Square and placed at the cenotaph during the Nov. 11 commemorative service.
“Many people call us as they want to lay wreaths at the cenotaph,” said Yvon Lehoux, sergeant-at-arms for the Cloverdale Legion. “We arrange the wreaths and transport everything to the cenotaph.”
At the ceremony, the emcee (this year Glenn Thomsen) will announce each wreath.
“They give us their name, such as a business or what have you, and the name of who is going to lay the wreath and then when it’s announced, they are called up to lay it.”
Lehoux said he expects there to be a lot of wreaths this year as there have already been many orders.
CLOVERDALE LEGION
Lehoux added everyone is invited back to the Cloverdale Legion after this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
He said the parade will march back to the Legion from Veterans’ Square after the ceremony.
The parade will be led by a colour party from the Royal Canadian Legion, followed by a contingent of veterans with the Cloverdale Legion colour party, which Lehoux, as the sergeant-at-arms, will lead.
“At the rearguard of the parade will be a Korean War jeep,” he added. “And we’ll have a Canadian Second World War utility truck too. The B.C. Vintage Truck Museum is providing that truck for our ceremony.”
Lehoux noted there will also be a 1914 utility truck parked right next to the front entrance of the Cloverdale Legion.
“That truck was in England during the First World War,” he explained.
The Cloverdale Legion will have refreshments available Nov. 11 and one doesn’t have to be a member to visit the Legion on Remembrance Day.
“We’ll have food afterward, hot dogs and hamburgers and such, on a donation basis,” said Lehoux.
As for the wreaths, Lehoux said anyone interested in purchasing one for Nov. 11 can call the Cloverdale Legion on 604-574-5300.