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Battle of Britain commemorated in Abbotsford

The parade and ceremony on Sept. 20 at Thunderbird Square mark the 75th anniversary
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A Battle of Britain ceremony takes place in Abbotsford on Sept. 20.

A parade and ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain takes place in Abbotsford on Sunday, Sept. 20.

There will be approximately 200 cadets on parade for this ceremony, as well as members of the Royal Canadian Legion, branch 15 in Abbotsford.

It will take place at Thunderbird Square, on Veterans Way near Abbotsford City Hall.

Guests and members of the public will be seated by 1:45 p.m., with the ceremony to begin promptly at 2 p.m.

MP Ed Fast and MLAs Mike de Jong, Darryl Plecas and Simon Gibson have been invited to attend, along with Mayor Henry Braun and members of city council, and lay wreaths on behalf of their respective levels of government.

There has also been an invitation for the Abbotsford Police Rifle Squad to participate in the ceremony. Also in attendance will be cadets from Abbotsford’s 861 Silverfox Air Cadet Squadron, as well as cadets from Mission, Langley and Maple Ridge air cadet squadrons.

The Battle of Britain was the greatest air battle of the Second World War, and was instrumental in Great Britain remaining defiant of the imperial ambitions of Nazi Germany.

It allowed Britain and its allies, including Canada, which was fully committed to the war effort already in 1940, to continue to lay plans for the defeat of the Axis powers.

British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill summed it up with a famous quote: “Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many, to so few.”

That still rings as true today, as it did in 1940, says Major Melanie Taylor, commanding officer 861 Silverfox Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.