Last year's Remembrance Day vigil at a local monument was so successful the church in charge is running it again this year, but not for quite as long.
Christ Church in Downtown Chatham held a 150 hour vigil last year at the Cenotaph for Canada's milestone birthday. The vigil was to honour all the people who served the country in any war.
Church Warden Judy Smith said there was so much support at last year's event they thought they had to do it again.
"Not for 150 hours though," Smith said. "This year it will be closer to 64. Last year we asked CK to stand vigil and we successfully did that. There wasn't a single moment someone wasn't standing vigil at the cenotaph."
Smith said like last year, the church will be open the entire time so people can get warmed up and have something to eat or drink during their guard. She added there is a difference this year though. Instead of requiring everyone to stand vigil for three hours, they have decreased the commitment to two in hopes of bigger teams.
She was blown away by the community last year and said numerous residents would stop by to say thank you and help out.
"They provided rain ponchos and sandbags to hold our signs down when the wind was blowing," Smith said. "They also stopped by with coffees and hot chocolates, just all those types of things."
Smith said teams can sign up so they can take shifts during the duration of the two hours. She added last year on her team of seven, some would stand by the Cenotaph while others went into the mall to get warm.
The warden said different people had different reasons for signing up and there was a wide variety. She expects a similar turn out this year with those who have served in the military and family and friends of those who have served.
Smith said anyone looking to join the vigil is in luck, but she is already getting responses. The event is open to anyone wishing to participate and those interested can sign up by contacting the church through its website.
The vigil starts at 6 p.m. Thursday November 8 and will run straight through until the Remembrance Day service at the church at 11 a.m. Sunday November 11.