Stratford to honour its veterans this Tuesday

Last month, the City of Stratford painted a custom veterans memorial crosswalk at the York Street and Veterans Drive intersection. Designed by local artist Nancy Groenestege and spearheaded by the Army, Navy and Air Force Veteran’s Association Unit 261 (and residents Linda Scammell and Jodi Nakluski), the crosswalk was unveiled in time for this year's Remembrance Day ceremonies, but it will  also be a year-round feature of Stratford for the years to come.

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Across the nation on Nov. 11, Canadians will honour its veterans for Remembrance Day. Here is what’s planned in Stratford that day.

The annual ceremonies once again take place at the Stratford Cenotaph along the banks of the Avon River. Each year, Stratford residents come out in droves for the ceremonies, filling Veterans Drive Parkland and downtown streets to watch area organizations march in a parade and honour the region’s veterans at the famed Stratford war memorial. Frank Mathieson, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8, said that it is a “thank you” to the sacrifices made by veterans throughout the years.

“Because it was their sacrifices that made Canada possible for what it is today,” Mathieson said. “And it's great to see the amount of community support that come out to honour them. And it's not just one day a year – they honour (veterans) throughout the year. Everybody just does it in their own quiet way.”

A parade of veterans and cadets, led by the Stratford Police Pipes and Drums, will leave the Stratford Armoury on Waterloo Street that morning, heading down Albert Street and winding through the heart of downtown Stratford, before arriving at the cenotaph.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., the formal ceremonies begin. Knox Church Pastor Kelli Berkner will do the scripture reading, the Call to Remembrance will be given by Rector Robert Lemon from St. James Anglican Church, and the honour roll will be read by the local legion’s chaplain Hayden Fischer. Comrade Richard Boon will act as Master of Ceremonies and announce the formal placing of the wreaths, where dignitaries will one by one lay wreaths in remembrance all around the war memorial. At 11 a.m., a moment of silence will commemorate the end of the First World War, which was at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

O Canada and the royal anthem “God Save The King” will be sung by Loreena McKennitt, former honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Central Perth Elementary School Choir will perform prior to the beginning of the ceremonies.

Following the service, the public can place their poppies on the steps of the cenotaph as the parade leaves Veterans Drive Parkland, heading back to the armoury.

For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live at 10:30 a.m. on Rogers TV (Cable 20 and rogerstv.com) and webcast on Ballinran Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

For the seventh year, the Stratford Perth Museum will be recognizing Remembrance Day through its banner program featuring Stratford and area veterans. They are currently displayed along Ontario, Downie and Wellington streets, as well as in Market Square and along Veterans Drive. Each year, Lange Brothers donates their time by installing and taking down the banners.

The poppy campaign also continues this year. Poppy boxes are in over 100 different establishments in the city, including the legion’s 804 Ontario St. location and the Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans building on 151 Lorne Ave. E.  The campaign heavily relies on donations, rather than sales, and proceeds are used to support veterans, their families and related services. Some of the proceeds support organizations that train service dogs for use by people with Operational Stress Injury (commonly called PTSD), as well as local hospitals which supply medical items to help support veterans.   

In addition to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, Nov. 8 is National Indigenous Veterans Day, which recognizes Indigenous people’s remarkable record of wartime accomplishment in service to Canada.