PICTOU
The annual county-wide Remembrance Service will take place in the Town of Pictou Sunday.
Bill Echlin, Zone 6 Commander for Royal Canadian Legion, said the Pictou County service, which started more than 80 years ago, will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the county cenotaph on Church Street.
A parade, led by a local pipe band, will line up at 2 p.m. on George Street with members of the local reservists, cadets and Nova Scotia Highlanders as well as legion members and many other participants honouring those who fought in war.
Echlin said the service began after the First World War as a way for veterans across the county to march together for a Remembrance Day service. Hosting the service on the Sunday before Remembrance Day allows veterans and service personnel to attend ceremonies in their home communities on Nov. 11.
He said it is getting more and more difficult to keep the county service going since the age of veterans is increasing but it is an annual service people attend in large numbers.
“It is a chance for the children to come from county schools and lay wreaths,” he said.
This year’s guest speaker will be Harley White, president of the Royal Canadian Legion in River John. There will be refreshments at the Royal Canadian Legion in Pictou following the service.
Echlin said local veterans will be attending services at schools next week and several services will take place at cenotaphs across the county on Nov. 11.
Leading up to Remembrance Day, poppies are made available by the Royal Canadian Legion and donations are accepted for them. Money raised from the poppy campaign goes directly back to the Poppy Fund, which is used to assist veterans.
