SUNDRE – The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #223 in Sundre was a full house on Remembrance Day.
All of the chairs were filled up and although the legion’s capacity is 318 with a non-fixed seating arrangement, the crowd was likely closer to approximately 400 as there were plenty of people who were also standing at the back of the venue and along the entrance hallway. Those who did not arrive early found themselves parking as far away as a couple of blocks.
“I can’t tell you how much my heart is bursting to see so many people,” said Rev. Todd MacDonald, president of the Sundre Royal Canadian Legion branch.
The community service was last held at the legion in 2017 and at the time had been relocated to the spacious gymnasium at River Valley School in 2018 with a large crowd coming out.
But following pandemic disruptions, attendance had waned over the past couple of years leaving many empty seats, prompting the legion leadership’s decision this year to bring back the ceremony to its traditional home at the local legion hall.
Among the dignitaries attending this year’s service were Sundre mayor Richard Warnock, Mountain View County reeve Angela Aalbers, as well as Rimbey–Rocky Mountain House–Sundre MLA Jason Nixon, all of whom laid wreaths.
MacDonald told the large crowd that Nov. 11 is much more than just another day off.
It's rather a somber opportunity to reflect on the service and selfless sacrifice of those who last century put their lives aside to serve a cause greater than themselves during the great wars – in many instances never to return home or come back irrevocably changed by either physical or unseen mental scars, he said. But it is also for those who continue to do so both abroad as well as on Canadian soil.
“Please, don’t forget them,” he said.
MacDonald also officially announced the service would be the last he’ll be officiating as the president of the Sundre legion.
“This will be my last Remembrance Day service,” he said, adding he plans to move out east early next year.
Offering parting words as the ceremony wound down, MacDonald encouraged everyone that as they kept in mind and close to heart the memories of veterans and those who continue to serve, “may we all remember that we are one big happy family in Canada.”
Wishing everyone well as the official portion of the ceremony concluded prior to the hall opening up for a chance to socialize, he said, “Try and make somebody smile today.”
