The traditional Dining in-Night of Ponoka’a Air Cadets Squadron took place on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Royal Canadian Legion hall with the attendance of Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Rod Fox.
Before the start of the dinner, participants heard tributes being paid to three Canadian soldiers who lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan as part of Canadian contingent of NATO. They are Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake of Canadian Navy, Private Colin Wilmot of Canadian Army and Corporal Dany Fortin of the Canadian Air Force.
A small table was placed in front of the head table and cadets put the wedge caps on the plates in memory of their sacrifice for the nation before standing in salute.
A tribute read: The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motive when answering the call to duty; the single red rose reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades; the vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our determination to remember our fallen comrades; a slice of lemon is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return; a pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed all; the glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time; the chair is empty as they cannot join us tonight.
Following the dinner there was live and silent auction for a variety of items.