On June 5th, a dedicated group of cadets and officers from NLCC Achilles braved the warm temperatures to participate in Guelph’s annual Decoration Day service, continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting the Guelph Legion and honoring our local veterans.

While many Canadians look to November 11th as our primary day of reflection, Decoration Day holds a unique and powerful place in our nation’s history.

The History of Decoration Day

• The Origins (1890): Decoration Day began on June 2, 1890, making it Canada’s first official day of remembrance. It originally served a dual purpose: a tribute to fallen militia soldiers, and a protest by veterans of the 1866 Battle of Ridgeway who felt the government had overlooked their historic service.
• The Evolution: For decades, it stood as Canada’s unofficial day of remembrance. Every year, communities would gather at local cemeteries to decorate war graves with flowers and ribbons.
• The Modern Era: In 1931, the Canadian government officially designated November 11th as Remembrance Day. While Remembrance Day eventually eclipsed the June holiday on a national scale, the deeply personal tradition of Decoration Day is still kept alive locally by the Royal Canadian Legion and regional historical societies.

Keeping the Memory Alive

NLCC Achilles is proud to participate in this ceremony every year. By standing alongside the Guelph Legion, our community's veterans, and fellow cadets, our cadets help ensure that Canada’s earliest pioneers of remembrance are never forgotten.

Thank you to the officers and cadets who turned out in the heat to represent the corps with pride, dignity, and respect.

Bravo Zulu to all who attended!