BONNYVILLE - “It’s more important now for school kids and their parents to remember our fallen heroes.”
Duane Hite, a 35-year veteran and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #183, stressed the importance of taking the time to mark Remembrance Day.
“A lot of (our fallen heroes) died in both the First World War and the Second World War, Korea, and while peace keeping. We lost hundreds of thousands of men and women," he said.
For Hite, Remembrance Day is a time to remember the time he served and those who didn’t make it home. There were a number of times during his 35 years in the air force that he felt like "somebody up there was looking after me."
One time, a plane he was meant to be on was shot down. After being stopped at a gate, Hite was surprised to learn the news.
“I fell right to the floor,” he recalled. “Someone said ‘what the hell’s the matter with you?” and I said, ‘I was supposed to be flying on that aircraft. One of my friends asked if he could switch places with me. I’m here, he’s dead.’”
Taking a moment of silence to remember those who have fought for our freedoms is among the reasons why the local branch will be hosting their Remembrance Day ceremony, even though it will look a little different this year.
Instead of taking place at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre, the event will be held outside the Legion hall, which is located at 5112 52nd Ave. in Bonnyville. The provincial restrictions on the number of 100 attendees at an inside event was what prompted the change.
“We could have had it inside, but it was the capacity (limit),” noted Bonnyville Legion president Jamie Beaupre. “With the way things are changing and flip flopping every day, we decided just to do it old school and go outside.”
Hite added, “In the last five years, we’ve been averaging between 1,200 and 1,500 people at the C2.”
When faced with the possibility of cancelling or braving the November weather, Beaupre stressed how important the event is.
“There’s a lot of Legions that aren’t doing anything and we’re not going that way.”
The ceremony will be shorter, due to it being moved outside, and will begin at 10:45 a.m. It will include the playing of O’Canada, the laying of the wreaths, and the Last Post.
Those who are interested in attending are encouraged to bring their own chairs and dress appropriately for the weather. As the street will be shut down to accommodate social distancing, parking will be available at Lions Park, which is west of the Legion.
Poppy boxes are also available throughout town, to allow residents to support the annual Poppy Campaign and wear a poppy.
