The Airdrie Legion will start a new tradition this year when it hosts the Remembrance Day ceremony at Genesis Place on Nov. 11.
“We all know this city has grown in population over the years. For the past 15 years or more, the Remembrance Day services were conducted at the Town and Country Centre,” said Dino Michaud, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 288.
“We have outgrown that facility, so this year we are holding the service at Genesis Place. It is quite exciting to go into a brand new facility that is bright and cheery. We’re really looking forward to it. In the past few years, we have had to turn residents away due to overcrowding.”
Last year, more than 500 people showed up for the service at the T& C and many were turned away. The new facility has a capacity of about 1,200.
“We had to give people the chance to pay their respects,” said Michaud.
“It is a holiday but it has meaning. It’s to remember all of our vets, not just from the First and Second World Wars and Korea but the peacekeepers and soldiers in Afghanistan right now fighting for us.”
The entire ceremony will be held inside, including the laying of the wreaths at a portable cenotaph.
“This opens the ceremony to even more people if the weather is bad,” said Michaud.
“Regardless of weather, you can take part.”
After the ceremony, at about 11:30 a.m., the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party will be laying a wreath at the cenotaph beside the Town and County Centre, for the Unknown Soldier.
“We are looking forward to seeing more residents of Airdrie come out to this special day with the new accomodations,” said Michaud.
The service will start at 10 a.m. with limited chairs available, for about 100 veterans and dignitaries.
