In A Walk Down Memory Lane, the Hafford and district history book published in 1983, Mary Chuhaniuk, then secretary of the Remembrance Day Committee writes:
"The formation of a committee to observe Armistice Day at Hafford, dates to November 11, 1951. The aim and purpose of this committee was to hold Remembrance Day Programs and to perpetuate in any way, the memory of those who died for Canada, particularly from the district. The committee was formed with the co-operation of the Richard-Speers-Hafford Branch of the Canadian Legion. Some of the early members of the committee were: W.J. Burak (then RM Secretary), F. Lakusta, M. Holota, P.J. Oschipok, J. Horbay, N. Werezak, N. Ashton (then CN Agent), E. Shklanka, Mrs. H. Ashcroft, Peter Bohun, Mrs. S. Mitchell, Harry Ashcroft, and W.J. Daviduk."
According to Along the Carlton Trail, the Speers and district history book, published in 1984: "Remembrance Day Service were, at first, always held in Speers, though on occasion would be held in Richard or Hafford. The Speers Legion No. 116, was granted its charter on Oct. 24, 1928. The Charter Members were: John Simmonds, Claude Radley, Leonard Noakes, Percy Simmonds, W.G. Scott, Ed. Gregor, Ted Foster, Cecil Campbell, Clarence Lindsay, Harry Layman, Walter Pope and George Linnell. From 1951 on, the Remembrance Day Service have been held in Hafford, with the participation of Legion No. 116."
In 2001 the committee celebrated its 50th anniversary. Present day long-time members of the committee are Ron Tkachuk, Ann Ogenchuk, Bob Shay and Armand and Irene Attrux. This year, Armand and Irene Attrux have stepped down from the committee.
Irene chaired her last service Nov. 11 this year, after having served as chair of the committee for 30 years, and having been a member for 40 years. Irene said she had been inspired to join the committee by Mary Chuhaniuk, who was a very dedicated member and secretary of the committee until her passing in the 1980s.
Armand became a member of the committee in 1983, when they were in need of a "handyman" and carpenter. Peter Chuhaniuk had built the first cenotaph for the indoor services at the very beginning of the services, in the 1950s. When it needed repairing in the early 1980s, Armand came on the committee and did the repairing.
In early 1984, the Remembrance Day committee commenced plans to erect a cenotaph in downtown Hafford. This cenotaph was unveiled Aug. 10, 1985, with a ceremony. Since then, wreaths are laid at the cenotaph as a tribute to the local people who died in action and whose names appear on a plaque on the cenotaph. That same year, cenotaphs were also erected in Speers and in Mayfair to honour their local people who died in action.
