SUNDRE – The bagpipe played, kilts were donned and haggis was served alongside a toast of whiskey at the local legion this past Saturday in honour of a famous 18th-century Scottish poet.
About 60 people attended on Saturday, Jan. 21 the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #223’s Robbie Burns Day Social to celebrate the Jan. 25, 1759 birthday – as well as honour the memory – of internationally recognized Robert Burns, who died aged 37 in 1796.
Dale McIntyre, a band piper with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 in Innisfail who is originally from Sundre and now lives in Olds, lead the ceremonial march of the haggis, dutifully carried by John Foster, who was followed immediately by whiskey bearer Tom Reap.
Capt. Todd MacDonald, the legion’s president and evening’s master of ceremonies, read aloud a traditional tribute called Address to the Haggis, which he shortly afterwards proceeded to slice open with a ceremonial sword prior to supper getting started.
