Morinville Remembers

The Honourable Ken Kowalski, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA talks to Dorothy and Charles Pelletier. Mr. Pelletier, 95, is the oldest living member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 176. He was in Normandy on D-Day in 1944.

By MorinvilleNews.com Staff

Morinville – Residents, dignitaries and members of the armed forces past and present came out in full force on a chilly Thursday morning to pay their respects to those who have fallen in combat and for those who continue to serve for the rights and freedoms Canadians enjoy.

After parading through Morinville’s downtown core, the colour party, military, RCMP, firefighters, service clubs and scouts joined the public for the Remembrance Day service, Deputy Mayor Paul Krauskopf assuming the duties of master of ceremonies.

The Remembrance Day activities continued inside the Legion branch with a second formal ceremony, speeches and a roast beef lunch.

Charles Pelletier, a veteran of the Second World War who was in Normandy on D-Day, was recognized as Branch 176’s oldest living member. A charter member of the Morinville branch, Mr. Pelletier has been a member for the past 64 years.

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1 Comment

  1. Dear Editor:

    I attended the Remembrance Day service yesterday as I do every year to pay my respects and acknowledge the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. It is the very least I can do to show them that I appreciate them. Attending the service is not a nuisance or an interruption in my family’s stat holiday; it is a valuable opportunity to educate our children and pay respect to those who have battled, still battle, survived, and died for our country. I do not mean to come across holier-than-thou by this submission as I know that many feel the same way I do, but too many take this day for granted. It is easy to let it come a go and treat it as a day to get things done around the house or spend time with our families; however, this day above all should be acknowledged by every person, regardless of age, religion, or gender, lucky enough to live in our incredible country .

    In Morinville we are surrounded by military families whom experience the same heartache and anxiety of those that we imagine from the early 1900s, 40s, 50s, 60s etc. War has changed and modern technology allows more intimate communication for soldiers and their families while they are away; and the percentage of lives lost is lesser, but the sacrifices are the same. You don’t have to support war to support our troops and acknowledge this day. You can just show them that you thought of them 1 day out of 365 by attending a service on November 11th.

    I was pleased to see two council members and one school trustee at the service, but quite disappointed that six others were absent from the service or at least not in my sight lines so I apologize if others were there but not visible to me. Many military residents of Morinville likely voted for the absent council members so I hope the councillors had good reason not to attend the service. Councillors are given the honour of representing their residents and they should all have a sense of duty and obligation to attend Remembrance Day services. We have the freedom to vote for all levels of government because of soldiers that fought and died for us.

    Sincerely,

    Kerry Knight

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