(The Stittsville Cenotaph after wreaths were laid and where veterans and residents gathered for the Remembrance Day ceremony in front of the Johnny Leroux Arena. Photos: Stittsville Central.)
The Remembrance Day service hosted by the Stittsville Legion, Branch 618, was a scaled down ceremony again this year due to the health guidelines in place. However, a significant number of Stittsville residents attended the service to honour the veterans and military who had went before us so Canadians can enjoy our democracy and freedom.
The usual parade down Stittsville Main Street was cancelled this year, as was the pipe band, the Sacred Heart High School students singing ‘O Canada’ and the Padre with his Remembrance Day prayer, this did not take away from the memories in our hearts and minds. After the ceremony, residents were invited back to the Legion to share stories and enjoy a warm bowl of chili or chowder. The attendance in the Legion hall was monitored with wristbands given out to each in attendance to obey the COVID restrictions.
(Jordan McConnell, Stittsville’s bagpiper, plays the Piper’s Lament at the Remembrance Day ceremony held on November 11, 2021 in Stittsville)
(Stittsville Legion President, Barb Van’Slot lays the wreath on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion.)
(Stittsville Silver Cross parents, Clair and Richard Leger, lay their wreath in honour of their son Sergeant Marc Leger who died in Afghanistan in 2002)
(Legion member and Korean War veteran, Johnny Leroux, lays his wreath at the Stittsville Cenotaph on behalf of the Korean War Veterans Association. The Cenotaph is located in front of the community arena named after him.)
(Stittsville Legion member Ron Currie lays his wreath at the Remembrance Day service.)
(Pierre Poilievre, MP for Carleton, lays his wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada and takes a moment to remember our veterans and military members.)
(MPP for Carleton, Goldie Ghamari, lays the wreath at the Stittsville Cenotaph on behalf of the Province of Ontario and takes a moment to remember all those who have gone before us.)
(Councillor Glen Gower prepares to lay his wreath on behalf of the City of Ottawa at the Stittsville Cenotaph and steps back to take a few moments to reflect on the veterans who have gone before us.)
(Long-time Stittsville resident June Warner lays her wreath at the Cenotaph and is joined by family to remember her husband and a father, Ivan, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Also joining the Warner family are family members of Roger and Bea Griffiths who also laid a wreath in honour of the late Councillor Roger Griffiths.)
(Ross Bradley and his son laid a wreath in memory of Bradley family members who fought in the Wars; the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Dragoons of Kanata laid wreaths on behalf of the youth of Canada; and members of the public came forward to present their wreaths at the Stittsville Cenotaph. After the service, Stittsville residents added their poppies to the Cenotaph.)
