Mission Legion members are preparing for this Sunday's annual Remembrance Day ceremonies, and are inviting everyone to make the time to show your respect for those who have fought for our freedoms.
Royal Canadian Legion Br. 57 will lead the parade at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 11 at Ecole des Deux-Rives, marching towards the Clarke Theatre, with local emergency first responders and service groups following behind.
The short jaunt precedes the Service of Remembrance, which starts at 10:40 a.m., and wraps up with the playing of Last Post, Silence, Reveille, the Lament and wreath laying at 11 a.m.
Following the service at the theatre, more wreaths will be laid at the Legion Cenotaph on Logan Avenue. A social gathering happens afterwards.
Karen Kuzek serves as the first vice-president of the Legion, and is encouraging more people to come forward to join the organization.
"You no longer have to be a veteran or related to a veteran to be a member," said Kuzek, who recently won the Legionnaire of the Year award.
Her father was a Second World War vet and she joined four years ago. At the age of 45, Kuzek said she's the youngest member of an organization that has seen a drastic majority of its membership pass away in the past number of years. "I'm the type of person to get involved, and the next thing you know, I'm on the executive."
The Legion does more than just represent veterans' interests; thousands of dollars generated by the group are distributed throughout the community to a variety of charities and non-profits.
Legion volunteers and Air Cadets were out a number of public venues Friday and Saturday, collecting donations for the Poppy Fund. Just over $8,700 was raised.
All money raised here stays within the community, Kuzek added.
New this year, you can donate $5 to the fund by texting POPPY to 20222.
For more information on how to join the Legion, call 604-826-2331, or visit its Facebook page, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 57 Mission.