Remembrance Day a time to pay homage to all who have served and sacrificed
Every year, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our community gathers to pause, to remember, to reflect, and to give thanks.
We stand in silence not only for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also for those who continue to serve and for the families who stand beside them every day.
Here in Orléans, Remembrance Day holds a special meaning. Our community is home to one of the largest populations of active and retired Canadian Armed Forces members in the country. It’s no wonder some affectionately call our community “CFB Orléans.”
From the veterans at the Legion to the spouses and their families who hold it all together during deployments, service and sacrifice are part of the fabric of our community.
When we think of remembrance, it is easy to picture the solemn ceremonies, the wreaths and poppies, and the sound of the bugle. But remembrance must be more than a moment of silence. It must be an act of gratitude lived every day: in how we support our veterans, in how we care for their families, and in how we teach our children about the freedoms that were bought at such a great cost.
The young men and women who left home to serve did so believing in something bigger than themselves; a belief in democracy, in peace, in the idea that Canada could be a force for good in the world. Many never came home. Others returned with wounds, visible and invisible. All deserve our thanks, our respect, and our commitment to never forget.
On November 11, I’ll be proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with veterans, families, and residents at the Orléans cenotaph to honour that promise. I invite you to do the same To pause, to remember, and to reflect on the incredible courage and selflessness of those who served and those who continue to serve.
To the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and to the families who serve beside them, thank you. Your sacrifice reminds us that freedom is not free, and that the strength of our nation is measured not only on the battlefield, but in the compassion of its people.
Lest we forget!
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
OYSTER NIGHT every Wednesday from 6-9 pm at the Orléans Brewing Co. Two types of oysters served with lemon, Tobasco, horseradish, salt and mignonette. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd., next to McDonalds.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Music at 8 p.m. with your host Matthew Palmer.
SDBC TAPROOM CONCERT SERIES presents Redial live and in concert from 7-9 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Advance tickets $10 available at 
ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY 11 a.m. at the Orléans Cenotaph beside the Orléans Legion Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Drive. Sandwiches and desserts following the ceremony inside the Legion.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF ORLEANS is hosting a Holiday Dinner at the St. Elias Banquet Centre, 750 Ridgewood Ave. Tickets: $75/person. 4 course dinner (choice of turkey, salmon or vegetarien), dessert and punch. Contact Mashooda Sayed at mashoodasyed@yahoo.ca or call 613-255-0872.
SDBC TAPROOM CONCERT SERIES presents East Coast Experience live and in concert from 7 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Advance tickets $25 available at 
