Poppy flag raised at City Hall

By Lethbridge Herald on November 4, 2024.

Members of The Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 take part of a poppy flag raising ceremony on Monday at City Hall to honour veterans within the community. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Members of The Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 hosted a poppy flag raising ceremony at City Hall Monday to honour veterans within the community. 

David Martin, acting president of Branch No. 4, spoke to media after the ceremony and said the flag was raised to continue remembering veterans’ contributions and sacrifices. 

“For us, this is the start of Veterans Avenue, as the city and council years ago let us designate 4th Avenue South for the month of November leading to Remembrance Day as Veterans Avenue,” said Martin.

Leading up to Remembrance Day, the section of 4 Avenue South between Stafford Drive and 11 Street South will be temporarily renamed Veterans Avenue.

When talking about the public’s reception of Remembrance Day across the city, Martin said it has been a positive reception. 

“We have over 400 or 500 poppy boxes throughout the city in various locations, so everybody has an opportunity to wear a poppy for Remembrance,” said Martin. 

He said that even though they hope for donations, it is all about the fact that people wear them that is important for veterans, which is why they are free. 

“The biggest thing is for the kids and younger generations to remember what the poppy represents. The sacrifices their parents and grandparents have done for Canada,” said Martin. 

The Lethbridge Remembrance Day Committee also has two concurrent 2024 Lethbridge Remembrance Day Services set for Remembrance Day on Monday. 

The 2024 Remembrance Day Parade and Service will be hosted by the General Stewart Branch No. 4 of the Royal Canadian Legion at Lethbridge & District Exhibition in the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre. 

This is an indoor event with Legion members, veterans, first responders, dignitaries and youth. Doors open at 10 a.m. with seating completed by 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m.

An outdoor event with the 20th Independent Field Battery at 10:45 a.m. at the Cenotaph on Veterans Avenue (4 Avenue South) in front of the Yates Memorial Centre. There are scheduled fly-bys by both a C-17 Globemaster by the 429 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and a Harvard IV. 

The Lethbridge Military Museum will be open with free admission on Monday from noon to 4 p.m. It is located at the Vimy Ridge Armoury near Lethbridge Airport.