On Sunday, Oct 30, a few days ahead of Remembrance Day, the hosted its first veterans鈥� dinner since the pandemic.

鈥淲e try to have it annually prior to November the 11th,鈥� explained legion service officer Doug Hadley.

鈥淲e invite all the veterans that we are aware of. We provide them with dinner, a little camaraderie.鈥�

Among the 36 who attended was retired Commander Wayne Reardon, who served on both coasts and elsewhere aboard a variety of naval warships, including a minesweeper, a destroyer, and a submarine.

He explained he was only briefly a submariner, and doesn鈥檛 have fond memories of his time aboard HMCS Okanagan, a cramped Oberon-class diesel-electric submarine.

鈥淚 only did it for the extra money,鈥� he laughed. 鈥淎fter three months, I went back to surface ships.鈥�

At another table, former private Jack Nicholls was describing how his military career didn鈥檛 go exactly according to plan.

鈥淚 signed up to join the navy, and I ended up a service corp driver,鈥� an amused Nicholls recounted.

Barb Burkett, president of the legion鈥檚 ladies auxiliary, was one of the volunteers who prepared the roast beef dinner.

鈥淲e enjoy doing it,鈥� Burkett remarked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our pleasure.鈥�

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On Friday, Nov. 11, Remembrance Day, there will be a parade to the Aldergrove legion, Branch #265, starting at 268th Street and Fraser Highway at 10:45 a.m.

A service will be held at the cenotaph in front of the branch at 26607 Fraser Hwy. with two minutes of silence and the laying of wreaths. In-person attendance is allowed.

Live music has been scheduled throughout the day, including the Fraser Valley Community Winds and other performers, along with a potluck luncheon.

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