Decoration Day observed by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 157

The Legion Br. 157 colour guard parades into Rose Hill Cemetery.

A pair of ceremonies were held by Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 to pay tribute to veterans who passed away outside of wartime and Legion members who died within the past year.

The first ceremony was conducted in Rose Hill Cemetery in Amherstburg with the Legion and dignitaries that attended shifting to the St. John the Baptist Cemetery side for the second ceremony. The ceremonies were held last Sunday morning (June 7).

The flag was lowered at St. John the Baptist Cemetery as part of the ceremony.

“Today is Decoration Day, a traditional recognition by our Fort Malden Br. 157 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Unlike Remembrance Day when we reflect on those killed in the Great Wars, we now gather to pay our respects to those unnamed soldiers who succumbed to war-gotten injuries and illnesses, those which are not listed on the cenotaph,” said Legion Br. 157 president Shawn Wilkie. “Further and importantly, we value the memory of our Legion members who have passed in the last year.”

A moment of silence was observed, with local Legion members who have passed away in the last year including Janet Martlin, Gerald Langlois, J.L. Sprague Jr., Pete Reid, Carolyne Brown, Gunter Merten, Kim Caza, Don Nantais, Dorothy Meloche, Al Legacey and Stacey Markham.

Flags were lowered in both sections of the cemetery as tributes were made. The Legion Br. 157 colour guard, the #202 Fort Malden Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, bugler Stephen Brown, local bagpipers and local veterans and Legion members joined the Decoration Day observations.

Wilkie called for those in attendance and the broader community to “strive to promote unity and the spirit of comradeship, never forgetting the solemn obligations we have assumed as members of the Royal Canadian Legion and remembering them, may we ever pray.”

Mayor Michael Prue and Councillor Linden Crain were in attendance on behalf of Amherstburg town council. Prue remarked that as the names were read off, he knew the people and the service they provided to the Legion. 

He said it was important to remember all who served and noted that by working to make the Legion better, they are also working to make the town better.

“They have all done us very proud,” said Prue. “I hope today that we do them proud.”

The mayor remarked that he heard some comments that Decoration Day is getting smaller in numbers, but he believed it was more important that the tradition is still continuing. Keeping the veterans and Legion members in their hearts is what matters, he added.

Decoration Day observed by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 157

By Ron Giofu