Legion commemorates Queen Elizabeth II

Tim Brody - Editor

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 (Edwin Switzer Memorial) in Sioux Lookout paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II with a memorial service on Sept. 19.
The 11 a.m. service at the cenotaph, located at the Town Beach, included prayers, a wreath laying, as well as the singing of O Canada and God Save the King. The service was followed by a reception in the lower Legion clubroom where a toast was held to commemorate the Queen.
“It’s like a Remembrance [Day] ceremony almost,” said Legion President Kirk Drew.
Drew, who served with two regiments [Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, as well as Essex and Kent Scottish] in a military career that spanned more than 33 years, commented on the Queen’s passing, “It’s one of those things that you always know it’s going to happen, but when it does happen its sort of a shock. It sort of takes you back, I’ve known no other monarch than her, she’s been there forever and now she’s no longer there, so it’s like losing your grandmother sort of thing. It was part of my life the whole time that I served and part of my life ever since I was born. Of course, I’m from a military family so, we were always raised that the Queen is the Head of State so, we always had allegiance to her. I don’t think I ever missed a Christmas Day message after she started giving them… it’s something hopefully the King will carry on with because it was always one of those inspiring things to hear.”