A crowd gathered at Sweet Corner Park in Winchester in the late afternoon of Oct. 25 for the ceremonial launch of the 2024 Poppy Campaign by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 108 in Winchester. From the left: North Dundas Councillor Matt Uhrig, PO2 Harvey Blais, Winchester Legion Branch President Janine Fawcett, SDSG MP Eric Duncan, Major Keith Williamson, RCL Branch 108 Poppy Chair Shawn Doolan and RCL Branch 108 member Steve Hemeon. Thompson Goddard Photo

WINCHESTER – A crowd of close to thirty people gathered at Sweet Corner Park in Winchester in the late afternoon of Oct. 25 for the ceremonial launch of the 2024 Poppy Campaign by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 108 in Winchester.

“We want to do acts of remembrance” commented SDSG MP Eric Duncan during the ceremony, with RCL Branch 108 Poppy Chair Shawn Doolan thanking the community for their continued support community.

Doolan noted that during the 2023 campaign close to $12,000 was raised in donations from the people in the local area. The funds raised are used to educate the next generation about the real cost of war, Legion bursaries and assisting veterans.

In the days leading up to Nov. 11, there are several acts of remembrance in the Municipality of North Dundas. An Oct. 22 press release from RCL Branch 108 includes information on several of these.

The Field of Crosses Presentation is planned for 10 a.m. on Nov. 8 at North Dundas District High School. Students research the fallen soldiers whose names appear on cenotaphs in the municipality, with “each one of these heroic soldiers has been designated a cross fabricated by the students of NDDHS.”

On Nov. 9 commencing at 9 a.m. at the Winchester Legion will be a pilgrimage to “visit the lesser-known cenotaphs in our Township”. At 9:15 a.m. the Ormond Cemetery, located at 12663 Ormond Road will be visited, followed by the Inkerman Cenotaph at 11526 County Road 3 in Inkerman, the Van Camp Cenotaph, 11035 Levere Road in Mountain, at 10:30 a.m., and the Hill 70 Monument located on Clark Road in Mountain at 11:00 a.m. It was noted how “These cenotaphs hold the names of heroes from our community but are often not visited as the cenotaph at Winchester District Memorial Hospital. With each stop on this pilgrimage, we show our respect to the fallen soldiers whose names grace these cenotaphs by holding a moment of Remembrance so that we strive to ensure they are never forgotten.”

The Ceremony of Remembrance in Winchester will be held on Nov. 10, beginning with pre-parade refreshments at the Legion in Winchester, before marching to the Winchester District Memorial Cenotaph (WDMC) which is located at the Winchester & District Memorial Hospital.

“A full Remembrance Ceremony, including wreath laying, will occur” at the WDMC at noon. It was noted how “this beautiful ceremony allows our community to come together with the common hope that the valiant members of Canada’s Armed Forces who have fallen, and those still living, are always remembered for their service, their bravery and their sacrifices made for our freedoms. Lest We Forget.”

More information on Services of Remembrance can be found on the social media or websites of the local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.