The Royal Canadian Legion is taking the harsh step of discouraging Canadians from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies this year as COVID-19 upends the traditional ways of honouring those who sacrificed their lives for our nation.
Legion branches in South Etobicoke and across the country are scrambling to plan stripped-down versions of the annual ceremony on Nov. 11 as local governments restrict large-scale gatherings due to a surge of new COVID-19 cases.
Members of the Legion Branch 101 Long Branch said on their website that they are shut until November 6 and displayed no event planned for Remembrance Day.
Hundreds of residents yearly show up at the Long Branch Legion hall to pay their respects.
At Legion Branch 643, on Jutland Rd., there is little information available about Remembrance Day events on their website.
The City of Toronto however is staging an event at 10:45 a.m. at the Etobicoke Civic Centre Cenotaph, according to the City website.
Many of this year’s commemorations will be virtual and available through the City’s website and social media, officials say.
IN most cities, a decision has been made to cancel the parade of elderly Veterans, serving military members and school-aged cadets that has long been a fixture of the event. Age is cited for keeping out the Veterans who are considered a high risk from the virus.
In addition to not being any Canadian Armed Forces parade, there will be a reduced colour party, no members of the Cadets or Junior Rangers will be present and wreaths will be pre-positioned so no wreath bearers or assistants will be required.
Ways to participate include watching the ceremony on TV or online, wearing poppies once they become available and recognizing two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 no matter where you are.
In Ottawa, where about 30,000 people attend the national ceremony yearly, there will be some traditional elements such as the playing of Last Post and the lament, the singing of In Flanders Fields along with the boom of cannons.
This year there will be a maximum of 100 participants in Ottawa.
Danny Martin, the Legion’s National Ceremony Director, said this is an important year to honour our Veterans since this is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
“At a time when we have all been isolated for months by the pandemic, ensuring the symbolism of the Legion and community leaders paying homage to our Veterans is more important than ever,” he says.
There will be scaled back ceremonies by many Legion Branches across the country given the current restrictions.
The Legion will offer a Facebook Live presentation of the National Remembrance Day ceremony, and additional broadcast plans are under consideration. Please contact your local Legion Branch for the latest information.
The Legion was founded in 1925 and is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization, with close to 260,000 members.
For more information visit www.royalcanadianlegion.ca