Legion Tree of Remembrance ceremony honours fallen veterans

By Lethbridge Herald on December 2, 2024.

A Navy League cadet places a lit candle on a table during the Tree of Remembrance Ceremony at the Legion on Sunday. Herald photo by Al Beeber

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

A solemn ceremony on Sunday afternoon honoured local veterans who have died in the past year.

The 18th annual Tree of Remembrance ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch General Stewart #4 honoured 39 veterans who were laid to rest from Nov. 1, 2023 through Oct. 31 of this year. 

Char Peck, Tree of Remembrance chair, said after the event in a packed darkened hall, that she and her team of nine scour Lethbridge Herald obituaries and with the assistance of area funeral homes contacts family members of deceased to invite them to the event.

During the ceremony, members of the Navy League Cadets, 50NLCC Lethbridge, marched to the front of the room and gently placed lit candles in small vases upon a table after a name was called.

The cadets conducted this exercise 39 times to pay tribute to the deceased veterans. After the ceremony, family members were presented with a poppy ornament to help remember their loved ones.

The hour-long event featured an opening address my Gary McLean, past president of the branch, the singing of the national anthem, an opening prayer and the recitation of In Flanders Fields by Legion member Wendy Urquhart.

After Legion member Pat McIntosh carried the first candle to the table, Brigadier General (Retired) Ray Romses did a tribute to all veterans which was followed by bagpiper David Kaminski playing Amazing Grace. Kaminski continued to play as the cadets marched up an aisle between two sets of seats until the ceremony ended after which trumpeter John Van Dyk played The Last Post. Kaminski followed with the Lament after a minute of silence and Van Dyk performed Reveille before Sergeant-at-Arms of the Branch Tasma Wall gave a touching recitation of It Is the Veteran.

Following Karen Hudson’s performance of The Lord is My Shepherd, Ladies Auxiliary president Carolyn McLennan thanked the audience for attending and Rt. Rev. Michael Hawkins, who said an opening prayer, closed with another.

In 2006, Gladys Archer and a volunteer committee of four started the ceremony and over the years, minor changes have occurred and the committee has grown, said Peck, a veteran’s wife and the treasurer/second vice president of the auxiliary.

The Tree of Remembrance Committee is a devoted, non-profit committee  and with the support” of the General Stewart Branch, was able to hold the ceremony, Peck said.

“The memorial service is to let family members know that the service of their loved ones is remembered and appreciated,” Peck added.