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The Paris Independent
November 4, 2023
R E M E M B R A N C E D AY Legion preparing for November 11th Remembrance Day ceremony at downtown Cenotaph By Casandra Turnbull The Paris Remembrance Day Service will take place on a Saturday this year and ceremony organizers are already anticipating a larger crowd. 11th,
On Saturday, November Grand River Street North in downtown Paris will be closed at 10:30 am in preparation of Service. Legion President Donald MacLeod said this year there will be more speakers placed across the road from the cenotaph to give people further away the opportunity to hear the service if
they can’t get front and centre. The rest of the Service will take place as it always does each year. The Colour Guard will march in at 10:40 am, followed by guests of honour – veterans, first responders, Guides & Scouts, local dignitaries and the Ayr-Paris and Paris-Port Dover Pipe Band. The Service, led by local man Dale Kitchen, starts with a moment of silence at 11 am. In the interest of time, some wreathes will be placed ahead of time and wreathes from local service clubs, dignitaries and fallen soldiers, will be placed by
members during the service. Children from area schools will perform O Canada, God Save the King and will recite in Flanders Fields. A post service luncheon is open to the public at the Paris Legion (70 William Street in Paris). If the weather cooperates, the patio will be open as well. If you plan to attend the Service, please arrive ahead of time as the OPP will close the streets by 10:30 am.
A Pipe Band leads the march to the cenotaph during the 2022 service in Paris. Above, veterans lay wreathes during the Nov. 11th service.
