The Merritt Centennials are taking time as individuals to pay their respects and honour those who have fought and died to protect Canadian freedoms before their afternoon game on November 11, as they attend the Merritt Legion’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
Later the same day, the Cents will take on the Spruce Kings at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in a game that will be free to attend for all active military personnel, veterans, and RCMP members. Cents coaching and management staff told the Herald that the initiative, along with the Cents attendance at the ceremony, is a part of the team’s collective and individual commitment to paying respect to service members.
“The plan is for our guys to pay their respects and show up just like any other person,” said Curtis Toneff, head coach and GM for the Cents.
“There’s so much going in the world, but the one thing we can’t forget is Remembrance Day and the soldiers who fought for our freedom. It’s not about the Centennials getting face time out in the community, it’s about us being normal people and attending the ceremony, so we never forget.”
Before the start of the game, both the teams and attendees will observe a moment of silence in honour of the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve.
The moment of silence is similar to the two minutes of silence acknowledged at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Canadians pause and remember in silence the sacrifices of those who served. The moment of silence is held annually at the same time in which hostilities ended in 1918, at the end of the First World War.
For more information on the Merritt Centennials, including their offer of free tickets for service members for the November 11 game, visit www.merrittcentennials.com.
