Organizers are predicting thousands will attend the first in-person Remembrance Day at the Fort 91原创 cenotaph since the COVID pandemic.

After two years of virtual services and limited turnouts, Fort 91原创 Remembrance Day committee chair Andy Schildhorn is looking forward to a big audience for the Nov. 11 services.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing better than being there and seeing 6,000 people show up,鈥� Schildhorn told the 91原创 Advance Times.

It happened in 2019, when a Remembrance Day record of 6,500 was set 鈥� up significantly from the previous year, when attendance was estimated at 5,000.

Then COVID hit.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Record turnout at Fort 91原创 Remembrance Day service

Numbers dropped in 2020 and 2021, when the services were livestreamed, and attendance was restricted.

It represented a rolling back of a steady growth trend for the annual Fort 91原创 event that began with its revival more than 20 years ago.

On Nov. 11, 1999, Second World War veteran Gord Gillard walked into the Fort Gallery 鈥� at that time located across the street from the cemetery. He was upset that there was nothing happening at one of the community鈥檚 first cenotaphs, which stood next to a veterans鈥� section in the village cemetery.

He spoke with Brenda Alberts, who joined him for an impromptu service of two at 11 a.m. that day.

Alberts promised Gillard there would be a proper service the following year 鈥� and there was (Alberts and Gillard have since passed away).

A joint effort of the Fort 91原创 Remembrance Day committee and the Fort 91原创 Lions Club, this year鈥檚 procession will begin at the west end of the Fort 91原创 Cemetery, near the intersection of St. Andrew鈥檚 and Nash Streets.

It will be led by a piper and a colour party, followed by veterans, active members of the armed forces, members of the clergy, RCMP, Armed Forces cadets, firefighters, elected officials, Kwantlen elders, and members of the scouting and guiding movements.

They will make their way toward the cenotaph, following the gravel and grassed roadways in the cemetery鈥檚 boundaries, passing by the graves of close to 300 veterans buried in the cemetery. People already assembled near the cenotaph will be able to view the procession as it approaches the site.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a complete return, I would say [to pre-COVID times].鈥� Schildhorn told the 91原创 Advance Times.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Legion holds pre-Remembrance Day dinner for veterans

Proceedings will be broadcast on and on starting at 10:15 a.m., Nov. 11.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still doing the virtual [service], in respect of elderly people who can鈥檛 make it,鈥� Schildhorn explained.

鈥淭here鈥檚 always [going to be] a livestreaming component,鈥� he predicted.

Reserved parking is available for veterans, the elderly, and those with disabilities at St. Andrew鈥檚 Church, next to the cemetery at 9025 Glover Rd..

In preparation for this year鈥檚 Remembrance Day service, organizers have made a public appeal for photos, short videos, and stories from veterans and their families.

Send them to info@fortlangleyremembers.com with subject line: 鈥淩emembrance Day 2023.鈥�