YORKTON – A small crowd gathered at the Yorkton Cenotaph to take part in a candlelight vigil Monday.
Candlelight ceremonies – like the one hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion General Alexander Ross Branch No. 77 – Yorkton — began in 1995 when the people of the Netherlands held a special ceremony to commemorate their liberation by Canadian forces 50 years earlier.
Dutch children placed lit candles on the graves of Canadian soldiers and the candles remained lit overnight in silent tribute.
As a result, commemorative candlelight tributes have now become annual ceremonies in the Netherlands and other European countries.
The ceremony was initiated in Yorkton several years ago by Richard Gibson, and is one of the candlelight ceremonies now hosted by the Legion annually.
