Organizers are planning their annual candlelight vigil to remember Canadian veterans in Powell River on Saturday, July 20. This year’s event will also commemorate the signing of the armistice which ended the Korean War 60 years ago.
This is the fifth year Royal Canadian Legion branch 164 has been holding the candlelight vigil. Last year it held the event in April to mark Canada’s sacrifices at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France during WWI. Previously they have also commemorated other important dates in Canadian military history like the June 6, 1944 invasion of Nazi-held France known as D-day and Victory over Europe Day.
“We started out with 99 veterans at the Cranberry Cemetery in 2009 and now we know 263,” said event organizer Karen Crashley. “We also pay tribute to 15 veterans at Holy Cross Cemetery at Kelly Creek.”
Bev Mansell, membership chair at the local Legion branch, said she brought the idea for the vigil with her when she moved to Powell River from Summerland, BC.
“It started a long time ago,” said Mansell. “It’s something that a lot of branches do.”
The idea is to have either veterans or family members place candles on the veterans’ graves. The candles, which burn for 24 hours, are encased in red plastic with a metal top to make them safer and a little more weather resistant.
Crashley said it has been a challenge over the years to determine who should be included in the ceremony.
“Unless they were Legion members, it’s very hard for us to know,” she said.
Crashley said they rely on veterans’ families contacting them to loved ones on the list.
Veterans and their family members will meet at the Legion on Alexander Street and then be taken by bus to Cranberry Cemetery for the ceremony to place and light the candles. They will then go back to the Legion for dinner and a ceremony.
After dinner, as the sun is going down, the veterans and their families will return to the cemetery to see the candlelight display.
“If you go up there in the dark it’ll just blow your mind,” added Crashley. “The first time I saw that it took my breath away.”
Crashley said that they will light four candles at the cemetery for veterans from Powell River who did not return home or who were lost at sea.
The dinner is free of charge for veterans and $5 for spouses, family members and guests. Organizers are asking people who are interested in attending to contact them to find out when the bus leaves the Legion, and to reserve spaces at the dinner and on the bus. For more information people can call the Legion at 604.485.4870 from 10 am to 2 pm or Crashley at 604.485.5176.
