November 5, 2024 – 07:56
The Remembrance Day parade will take place on November 10 in Sorel-Tracy
By: Stéphane Fortier
Branch 117, General LR Laflèche of Sorel-Tracy is feverishly preparing the traditional parade of jor of Remembrance which will, once again, pay tribute to our veterans.
The parade will take place on Sunday November 10 and the person in charge, Denis Duguay is responsible for its organization. “The departure assembly will take place at the Sacré-Cœur center at 10:15 a.m. In addition to the veterans, we will have two corps of cadets, that of CMRC 165 and CCLM 144 Marquis de Tracy,” indicateshe from the outset.
How many veterans will there be? “Difficult to say, some have confirmed, but unforeseen events can happen. We will take those who come forward,” replied Mr. Duguay. If federal deputy Louis Plamondon has already confirmed his presence, the Legion was still awaiting a response from provincial deputy Jean-Bernard Émond.
Departure will therefore be around 10:40 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. “ We will head towards Hôtel-Dieu, take rue du Roi and Rue Charlotte andceremonie aura place at 11 a.m. square Royal in front of the cenotaph. During the ceremony, music, two minutes of silence and the Last post (a British Commonwealth clarion call, used during ceremonialmonies commemorating those who died in war). We will then return to the Sacré-Cœur center,” mentions this Canadian army veteran who was assigned to transport.
Uncertain future
Of the dinternal disagreements, a clan war, according to Denis Duguay, a constantly declining membership, leading in particular to financial problems, have led the Sorel-Tracy Legion under a guardianship. It’s the Royal Canadian Legion, direction provinciale du Québec, who currently administers the organization.
« Many believe that the Legion should only welcome veterans, but out of 125 members, there are only 25 veterans, the others are associate members (people who are relatives of veterans) or affiliates. Many veterans leave the army, but do not join the legion. We lack replacements,” laments Mr. Duguay, who had a career of nearly 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Despite this, life continues for Branch 117. A brand new president has just been elected, namely Réjean Brizard, veteran of the Canadian armed forces as a gunner-signaler in 1969. Elected by the members for the first time and then by the provincial, he was given an honorary medal for his 50 years as a member of the branch. Will he be able to strengthen the Soreloise Legion? EIn the meantime, let us remember those who fought for our freedom on November 10.
Canada
