On Monday, Sept. 19, Aldergrove resident Michaela Hicks stayed up late to watch the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth, live from London.

Later that morning, she and her sister Alisa attended the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove branch service at the cenotaph outside the hall on Fraser Highway, joining more than 60 who took part.

Michaela explained the passing of the Queen was 鈥渞eally significant鈥� for her and her sister, because they moved to Canada from England, and their father, who had been in the Royal Air Force, strongly supported the monarchy.

鈥淚 just love her,鈥� Michaela told the Langley Advance Times, adding 鈥渋t鈥檚 very sad to see her go.鈥�

Alisa agreed, describing the late queen as 鈥渧ery lovely.鈥�

Bugler Art Black took the day off work to perform the last post and reveille, while cadets served as honour guard.

There was a moment of silence before Anglican minister Paul Guitan spoke.

In his remarks, Guitan acknowledged that some Canadians will have 鈥渕ixed emotions鈥� about the queen, and went on to cite her commitment to change.

鈥淲hen she came to the throne Britain was a colonizing power,鈥� Guitan told the gathering.

鈥淎nd many Canadians have benefited from colonialism but many Canadians have [also] suffered as a result of that. But the Queen鈥檚 own passion was for a thing that became the Commonwealth, of which of course Canada is a part, and what she said about that, was the Commonwealth symbolizes the transformation of the Crown from an emblem of dominion into a symbol of free and voluntary association. In all history, this has no precedent.鈥�

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In her remarks, Legion branch president Deb Gray said 鈥渋t is with heavy heart that we gather, as did millions of others around the world, to say goodbye to our sovereign leader.鈥�

鈥淢ay her direction and legacy live on in Canada and across the Commonwealth,鈥� Gray went on to say. 鈥淚n saying good-bye, we close one chapter and open a new one by welcoming King Charles the third, and we wish him the same faith, strength, courage, and grace that has preceded him.鈥�

Then the gathering sang 鈥淕od Save the King.鈥�

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More pictures from the day can be viewed online at the.