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Candles pay tribute

Ceremony honours those who served
Candles pay tribute

Candles will light up graves of deceased Powell River service personnel next month as a tribute to their sacrifice.

Branch 164 of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold a candlelight tribute on Saturday, May 14 in commemoration of V-E Day. The ceremony, which is being held for the third consecutive year, will start at 3 pm at the Cranberry Cemetery. Everyone is welcome to attend. A bus will leave the Legion on Alexander Street at 2:30 pm to take veterans and/or their spouses to the cemetery for the service. All veterans in the Powell River area are welcome. They do not have to be a member of the Legion.

“If you are a veteran, a widow or a family member of a veteran who is interred in the Cranberry Cemetery, and would like to light a candle at this ceremony, please come into the Legion to sign up,” said Karen Crashley, Legion secretary.

After the service at the cemetery, the bus will take the veterans back to the Legion for dinner. The dinner is free for veterans and $5 for a spouse or widow. People who wish to attend must come into the Legion to get a ticket prior to May 4.

Crashley said there will be some entertainment at the Legion before and after dinner. “The bus will take the veterans back up to the cemetery at approximately 9 pm so they can see the candles in the dark,” she said.

“If anyone knows of a veteran who is interred in the Cranberry Cemetery who we have missed in the past, please let us know as soon as possible.”

Readers can call the Legion at 604.485.4870 between 10 am and 2 pm, Monday to Friday, to ensure the name is on the list. Or they can call Crashley at 604. 485.5176.

“We will be placing the crosses on the graves on Saturday May 7, so if anyone does not see a cross on a veteran’s grave, please let us know as soon as possible,” Crashley said.

The Legion will also have crosses and candles at Holy Cross Cemetery at Kelly Creek to pay tribute to the veterans interred there.