On February 15, 2015, Canada Patriot’s Mike Buckle co-hosted a Canadian Flag 50th Birthday Party at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 133 in Cobourg, Ontario. Special Guests included Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier, Canadian Senator David P. Smith, MPP Lou Rinaldi Representative Travis Hooper, and Conservative Party Candidate for Northumberland-Peterborough South Adam Moulton.
The event began with co-organizer and Branch 133 President Josephine Upton welcoming the partygoers and setting the stage for the afternoon’s celebration.
She introduced Canada Patriot’s Mike Buckle who expressed his enthusiasm for the day’s event and thanked Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Andrew Hall for the town’s successful Canadian Flag flying promotion throughout the downtown area.
Mike then introduced the day’s Special Guest Speakers, beginning with Conservative Party Candidate for Northumberland-Peterborough South Adam Moulton.
Adam gave a brief history of the flag, before presenting a new one to Branch 133 President Upton on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Travis Hooper, representative for Ontario MPP Lou Rinaldi, followed with a brief history of the maple and its historic importance as a symbol of Canada.
He then presented a new Ontario flag to Legion Branch 133 to mark the occasion.
The next speaker was Cobourg Mayor Gil Brocanier who told a story about distinguished Cobourg native Francis Patrick Duffy, who served as chaplain for American forces during the First World and became the most highly decorated cleric in the history of U.S. Army.
Mayor Brocanier then presented a Cobourg Flag to Branch 133 President Upton.
The event’s final speaker was Canadian Senator for Cobourg David P. Smith, who shared his experience of being on Parliament Hill in 1965 as the National Director of the Young Liberals when the Canadian Flag was inaugurated as the country’s national flag.
He then expressed how proud he is of Canada and the Canadian Flag when he travels abroad and represents the country around the world.
Branch President Upton closed the official ceremony by introducing the Cobourg Legion Pipe and Drum Band which paraded through the Legion hall.
That’s when the real partying began!
To view the official 50th Anniversary ceremony and hear the Cobourg Legion Pipe and Drum Band, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz_N85NtCkY
… And be sure to fly the Canadian Flag during its 5oth year!