24-hour vigil being held in Wallaceburg

File photo (Lana Polkinghorne)

Inspired by a Remembrance Day vigil held last year, organized by the Christ Church in Chatham, a similar event is taken place in Wallaceburg this year.

Wallaceburg residents Nick Cadotte and Rick Bernard are organizing a 24-hour vigil at the cenotaph in Wallaceburg, starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 10 and running until the Remembrance Day ceremony on Sunday, November 11 at 11 a.m.

“We’d like to have at least four people standing vigil at the cenotaph at all times,” Cadotte said in a media release

“The two-hour shift can be split up into shorter shifts among groups if they want. We’ll have coffee and soup for everyone who participates, and 99.1 FM CKXS will be open as a warming station.”

Cadotte said the initiative is the least he can do to honour veterans and all those who have fought for Canada.

Bernard added the vigil is a great way to show respect to the veterans who have fought for the country’s freedom.

“If you were unable to give it for two hours we are more than willing to work with people as far as excepting shorter times,” Bernard told the Sydenham Current.

“They can come and show support or even if they wanted to stand longer that would be fine as well. This is the first year that we’ve been doing this here in Wallaceburg. We decided to do this after the vigil that they have done in Chatham in years past and thought it would be a great way to show respect and honour our veterans that have brought us our freedom that we have and enjoy today.”

Cadotte said he has spoken with Christ Church officials, who are doing a 64-hour vigil this year.

“They’re honoured to have another community of Chatham-Kent doing the exact same thing,” he said in a press release.

Bernard said they are hoping to make it an annual event in Wallaceburg.

“As far as it being so important for the community to get involved in, it’s just simple to me,” he said.

“Without the veterans fighting for our freedom years ago in the wars, we wouldn’t have what we have today and we wouldn’t be where we are today. This is just a simple way to say thank you and pay respects to those who have fallen, as well as those who are still with us today enjoying the freedom that they fought for. No matter if it’s at 3 a.m., I know that there was a soldier years ago standing in the trenches fighting for my freedom at 3 a.m. and I think I could do this for him, which is a lot easier than what he did for us.”

Anyone interested in participating can contact Cadotte directly by emailing NCadotte@ckxsfm.com or calling 519-627-0007 ext 231.

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