Remembrance Day ceremonies in Barrhead and Fort Assiniboine

BARRHEAD - Barrhead's Remembrance Day ceremony will be a primarily indoor affair.

The ceremony will start at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 in Barrhead Composite High School's (BCHS) East Gym, and it will end shortly after 11 a.m. following the playing of the last post, concluding with the laying of the wreaths, all of which will take place in the gym. Alliance Church pastor Trever Crowe will deliver the Remembrance Day message.

Barrhead Royal Canadian Legion president Chuck Mortimer said they chose to have the entire service inside due to the unpredictability of the weather.

"We've had at in both the [Barrhead Elementary School and the BCHS gyms before for the same reasons," he said, adding that given the age of some of the veterans, it is getting more difficult, especially if the weather is inclement, to make the walk from the schools to War Memorial Park to place the wreaths.

Although the Remembrance Day ceremony is inside, Mortimer said there would be a group of active Canadian Armed Forces personnel coming from Edmonton.

The soldiers will conduct a military parade from the Royal Canadian Legion to BCHS starting at 10:10 a.m. After the parade, members from the unit will participate as part of the colour guard.

The parade will be led by Canadian Armed Forces veteran and Barrhead Regional Fire Services deputy chief Ted Amos, a 21-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces — the majority of those years he spent with the Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment, also known as the Royal Canadians or the Strats, including two tours in Afghanistan as a tank commander.

After the ceremony, people are invited to the Legion for a lunch provided by Freson Bros.

Mortimer said that both the Legion's downstairs lounge (which serves alcohol) and the upstairs will be open for the majority of the afternoon.

Fort Assiniboine 

In Fort Assiniboine, Legion president Dale Kluin said the service will follow much of the same pattern as in previous years, adding the program will start at 10:30 a.m. and will be led by United Church Roger Manuel inside the Legion Hall and will include Bible scripture as well as references and stories about the wars and conflicts Canadian Armed Forces personnel have served in along with their and other members of the community's peacetime efforts.

Shortly before 11 a.m., the colour guard leads attendees outside for the Act of Remembrance, the playing of the Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence and the laying of wreaths. 

The ceremony will conclude back in the Legion Hall with the singing of hymns, poems by local school children, and messages from dignitaries.

After the ceremony, the Fort Assiniboine Legion gives out its annual awards and is followed by a hot dog lunch.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com