Royal Canadian Legion Branch 236 marches from Legion to Cenotaph

The Colour Guard takes its place around the cenotaph at the start of the Remembrance service on Nov. 8.

By Wendy Lamond

On Sunday, Nov. 8, the St. Marys Legion Branch 236 held its annual Remembrance Day parade.

Veterans, local dignitaries and wreath layers, led by the Stratford Police Pipes and Drums band, marched from the Legion at the corner of Church and Station streets to the Cenotaph on Queen Street. The ceremony is a tribute to all of those who have served.

The poem, “In Flanders Fields,” was read by Perth-Wellington MP John Nater’s representative, Keith Mitchell. There were approximately 40 wreaths laid at the cenotaph, placed there by representatives from government, service clubs, businesses and individuals showing respect and mourning the fallen.

Mayor Al Strathdee shared the story of a young soldier, Lloyd McKnight, who was from St. Marys and enlisted to go to war. He spent time in England and then was sent to Italy. At the age of 29, he was wounded in battle and died later that same evening.

His name will remain engraved on the St. Marys Cenotaph. The crowd prayed, sang “O’ Canada” and “God Save the King,” and the Colour Guard, along with the band, led the group back to the Legion.

For more stories of local soldiers, visit the Legion’s website at https://rcl236stmarys.ca/cenotaph where Niki Sumpter has been putting together stories on all of the veterans commemorated on local veteran’s banners and on the cenotaph.