The 5:30 am Vimy Ridge memorial service at the Cenotaph in Fraser Lake was attended by dedicated citizens, Officers and Air Cadets from the Vanderhoof 899 Squadron as well as members of the Royal Canadian Legion 274.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Burtenshaw shared some information about a visit to Vimy Ridge, France.
Elaine Storey and Judy Mooney representing the Royal Canadian Legion also shared information from family members.
Although daybreak was uncomfortably early and cool, it was a small sacrifice standing for an hour at dawn to remember the heroic sacrifices made to reclaim Vimy Ridge in Northern France from German occupation in World War I, at this exact time, on this day in 1917.
The service here in Fraser Lake was one in solidarity with the other ceremonial tributes across the nation and in Europe. Canadian and British casualties; 3,598 dead and 7,004 wounded, the heavy price for this Allied victory.
Officers and Cadets in the photo’s: Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Burtenshaw, Commandant Officer Melo, Sergeant Officer Bleeker, Flight Corporal Bleeker, Flight Corporal Stone, Leading Air Cadet Lenartowicz and Leading Air Cadet Skerik.
One of the very dedicated members of the public, Trina Evans, took these photo’s, provided the names and was so kind to explain the Squadron ranks:
First is Air Cadet (AC), Second is Leading Air Cadet (LAC); Third rank is Corporal (Cpl); Fourth is Flight Corporal (FCpl); Fifth rank is Sergeant; and Sixth, the highest rank, is Flight Sergeant (FS).