Those in attendance may have noticed something a little different at Aldergrove's Remembrance Day ceremony: the cadets were much more involved this year.
Cadets read poems and names, took photos, stood guard, and were very present for the ceremony.
It's the start of a new tradition by the Aldergrove legion, explains parade marshal and veteran Shaun Francis, a "passing of the torch."
"They're next generation, they're the next folks that we are handing the torch of Remembrance to," he told The Star.
Since the next generations will be responsible for continuing Remembrance ceremonies and carrying forward veterans' stories, Francis said it's important the cadets have experience now.
"Who knows what this is going to look like in 50 years time," he said.
The ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11, began with the parade march from Old Yale Road, east of Fraser Highway all the way to the legion, just before 264 Street. Roads were blocked for the duration of the ceremony.
As the sounds of drums and trumpets grew closer to the legion, people gathered around the cenotaph with their programs to follow along with the singing of 'O Canada' and reading of 'In Flanders Fields.'
Members of the Langley RCMP, Langley Township Fire Department, Girl Guides, Scouts, and Aldergrove Elks participated and laid wreaths.
"There's 120 names on our cenotaph, between the first and second wars, of those from the Aldergrove area," Francis said.
As Environment Canada had forecast, a storm system packing heavy rain and strong winds hit Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley – west including Abbotsford, and the Sunshine Coast - Gibsons to Earls Cove overnight.
The rain sprinkled during the two minutes of silence, before it began a short downpour for the last minutes of the ceremony.
"I was very pleased and amazed how many people showed up, because I was thinking a lot would just look out the window and [not go]," Francis commented.
"It was so nice to see the community come out."
When the rain began to pelter attendees during the wreath laying, the air cadet reading names took a moment to address the change of weather.
"The lives we are honouring today stood in a lot worse conditions," she said.
Francis praised the reminder.
"I'm so proud and pleased as a veteran to see so many folks from the Aldergrove community join us on Remembrance Day and remember those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and continue to do so in service of Canada."
Francis has been a member of the legion since 1988, joining the Aldergrove legion specifically in 2008 when he moved to town. He'd lived in Keremeos and then Osoyoos, before coming to Aldergrove.
He's been the parade marshal for the Remembrance Day ceremony since 2009 for Aldergrove.
SEE ALSO: VIDEO: Volunteers, students honour Aldergrove veterans at Aberdeen Cemetery
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