Candlelight Ceremony pays tribute to those who served and returned to a grateful home

September 10, 2014 · 0 Comments

September 20 and 21 mark the 14th Annual Candlelight, Drum Head Memorial Service which is put on by the Aurora Branch #385 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
We all know that November 11 each year is the day on which we remember those from our various communities across the country, who gave their lives and did not return home.
The difference between November 11 and the Candlelight weekend is that during this weekend we demonstrate our commemoration of those who answered the call of duty and DID come home.
During this ceremonial weekend, 420 candles are lit on the Saturday evening and placed on various grave sites acknowledging those veterans who returned and continued to serve their country in peace and contributed to Aurora’s prosperity.
We invite you to take a drive by on Yonge Street on the evening of the 20 September to view this spectacular demonstration of acknowledgement for these men and women who served their country.
On Sunday, September 21, a Drum Head Service will be carried out at the cemetery at 2 p.m. This ceremony is an actual reconstruction of an age-old tradition that was conducted during a time of battle, when drums were used to construct an altar for prayer for those who were lost in battle that day.
Our ceremony will honour all of those who served their country and have come to find a place of rest within our community’s cemetery.
Through Aurora’s Colonel Fred Tilston (Victoria Cross) Branch of the Legion, we extend an invitation to citizen’s, members of all churches and service clubs to come out and join with us to reflect our collective statement of thanks and remembrance, to those who served and to honour their contributions in times of conflict and in peace.

Dave Franklin, President
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 385
Aurora