The annual November 11th Remembrance Day Ceremony has played a major role in Canada since 1931. Every year, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canadians gather in memorial parks, churches, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to stand in honour of all who have fallen.
In continuing with this tradition, the local organizing committee consisting of members of the local Legion Captain A. Roy Brown Branch #192, are in the planning stages of conducting a normal parade and Cenotaph Ceremony this year in Carleton Place.
Although pandemic restrictions last year did not deter the holding of a Cenotaph Ceremony, it did restrict the full participation of regular participants and holding a normal parade. Despite this, there was still a large crowd in attendance to ensure that the tradition of Remembrance continued in order that Canada’s Fallen will not be forgotten.
With the lifting of various pandemic restrictions over this past year, it has allowed the local organizing committee to once again include a parade and Cenotaph Ceremony similar to pre-pandemic Ceremonies. The parade will form up on Mill Street at Bridge Street in front of the Town Hall at 10:15 a.m. and march off at 10:30 a.m. The parade will march from Mill Street along Bridge Street to Veterans Way in front of the Cenotaph. The Ceremony will begin in Memorial Park at 10:50 a.m.
The parade will be led by the local Captain A. Roy Brown Branch 192 Legion Colour Party with Branch Sgt-At-Arms Barry Pascoe leading them. The parade itself will be led by Parade Commander, Peter Schaffer, President of Branch 192. We will once again have a contingent of military personnel from Base Petawawa included in our parade.
The Carleton Place and District Community Band will return for the first time since 2019 and band member Mike Peckett will again play Last Post and Rouse during the Ceremony. Local piper Dr. Cam Ellis will once again play the Lament. Participants in the Cenotaph Ceremony will include Master of Ceremonies Ron Goebel, a Past President of Branch 192 and current Chair of Ontario Command, Captain A. Roy Brown Branch 192 Padre Father David Andrew, Immediate Past President of the Captain A. Roy Brown Branch 192 Brian Comeau and a long-standing member of Branch 192 Jerry Flynn.
After being absent for the past two years, the local Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps #211 Lanark and the Navy League Cadet Corps #181 will also participate once again in our parade and during the Ceremony including to provide a sentry at the Cenotaph during the Ceremony.
The cadets will also be holding an all-night vigil again this year at the Cenotaph from sunset on November 10th to sunrise November 11th. Residents are encouraged to visit the Cenotaph during the evening hours of November 10th from 7 p.m. through to sunrise on November 11th to support these young cadets.
Road closures will take place to facilitate the parade and Ceremony on November 11th. The Veterans Way portion of Franklin Street will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. through to the completion of the Ceremony at approximately 12 noon. Franklin Street from Bridge Street to Beckwith Street will also be closed from 10 a.m. until following the Ceremony. Beckwith Street from the Public Library through to Mill Street will also be closed from 10 a.m. until the completion of the Ceremony. Mill Street from Bridge Street to Beckwith Street will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. until following the Cenotaph Ceremony.
Residents and businesses are being asked to not park in these areas during this time. No parking signs will be placed in the areas where street closures will take place and everyone’s cooperation is being requested.
The annual Poppy Campaign will begin the last Friday in October and Poppy boxes will be placed at various merchants throughout Carleton Place. The Royal Canadian Legion encourages all Canadians to wear a Poppy and observe a moment of silence on November 11th, to mark the sacrifices of the many who have fallen in the service of their country, and to acknowledge the courage and dedication of those who have served and to those who continue to serve.
We will Remember them!