With no restrictions in place, everyone is invited to reflect and remember

After two years of limited attendance, the organizers of Steinbach's Remembrance Day Service are excited to invite the community back. 

Bill Richards with the Steinbach Legion says this year's Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre with room for 400 attendees. He notes they also have a contingency plan for some overflow seating if it is needed. 

“To me personally, it means a great deal. We can reflect without having to worry about anything. I think over the past few years, with all of the restrictions and stress, I think people really want to attend and there is a real desire for people to come together and reflect on Remembrance Day this year.” 

Richards says it may sound weird to use the word ‘excited’ as it is a sombre event, nonetheless, he notes he is excited to see a large crowd gather together to honour and remember all those who have served and continue to serve our great country. 

“We have a full contingent of cadets coming, we are going to have a colour party as we used to in years past. We will have a piper, and a pianist, we are pretty excited. This is going to be a very well-received service.” 

The service will begin at 10:45 A.M. Friday, however, attendees are encouraged to show up a few minutes early to ensure the service runs smoothly. 

Meanwhile, Richards says this year’s poppy campaign has been a wild success so far. 

“We have been busy taking poppies throughout the Southeast. We have dropped off poppy boxes from as far south as Sprague, all the way to Niverville, out past Richer, and of course, the City of Steinbach and all those areas in between. Our returns so far, thanks to the cadets, scouts and guides, have been phenomenal.” 

Richards says the Southeast is always generous, but this year it seems special. 

“I'll give you an example. There was one gentleman last Friday and we don't know who he is and he came up and asked about what the poppy meant and so the cadet explained that to him and he put a $100 bill into the poppy box and we have had many donations similar to that. People seem to be genuinely interested in what Remembrance is all about. This is phenomenal and we've not seen that before.”