Shaune Lapworth, left, presents one of two first poppies of 2024 to veteran Irwin Hennie. (Submitted photo/Shaune Lapworth)

By Derek Cornet

honour

Residents invited to Remembrance Day ceremony at Kikinahk Friendship Centre

Nov 8, 2024 | 7:00 AM

Residents of the tri-communities are invited to a Remembrance Day service at La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre starting at 11 a.m.

“The Colour Party will march from the town office to the Kikinahk. Once they are there and at the appropriate time, they will come in and present the colours and we will start a little service,” said Royal Canadian Legion Branch 371 President Shaune Lapworth.

“There will be an official wreath laying for the federal government, provincial government and local community and then there will be a couple of speeches by air cadets. We’ve got a drum group, we’ve got a live trumpeter this year again, and then we will lay the wreaths for all of the veterans that have gone through our community and after that the service should conclude.”

The service, which is expected to last for approximately one hour, will be followed by a soup and sandwich lunch at the local Legion along La Ronge Avenue.

Remembrance Day is a chance to remember anybody that served in the military in any of the World Wars, smaller conflicts or peacekeeping efforts. It is a day to honour military veterans, as well as RCMP.

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The Legion in La Ronge is fairly active with 38 paid members. Lapworth explained during the year, members are busy with fundraising, monthly game nights, as well as hall rentals. The Legion also holds a Poppy Account for veterans that are in need of local assistance.

“We’re hoping to put together a curling team this year to go to a provincial Legion curling competition and we are raising funds for the long-term care program here in town,” Lapworth added.

“There will be an announcement hopefully before Christmas on what we’re going to contribute there.”

This fall, Lapworth was also responsible for the installation of 32 banners recognizing local veterans. The banners were first installed in 2023 due to the efforts of Chuck Mackinnon and Teron Roberts. Lapworth added approximately 30 more banners will join the current ones in 2025.

“The local branch here has bought miniature banners that go up [at Churchill Community High School], our hall and Senator Myles Venne School as well,” Lapworth said.

“We have three sets of mini banners to match what is displayed around town.”

If the public is unable to attend the local ceremony, they can observe a national ceremony which will be aired live on TV from Ottawa. Lapworth mentioned if the public isn’t able to observe a ceremony, they can partake in two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com