Back to normal Remembrance Day ceremonies to be held November 11

After being drastically downsized due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 is looking forward to a return to full scale Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11. 

“We are very pleased,” said Pierre Breckenridge, Branch 25 1st vice president.

“We intend to have the parade, starting at GFL Memorial Gardens over to the main Cenotaph, have a wreath laying ceremony and gun salute there and then march back to the GFL and have the main ceremony as we have in the past.”

“I think that the citizens and veterans alike are looking forward to that return to normalcy. The veterans can be with their comrades, reminisce, they can listen to the band, they can remember their brothers in arms and commemorate the service and sacrifices of their comrades,” Breckenridge said.

Participants and the public are asked to gather at GFL Memorial Gardens between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. before the parade heads out to the Cenotaph.

The ceremony at the Cenotaph is expected to begin at approximately 9:50 a.m. and last for approximately 25 minutes.

Participants and the public will head back to the Gardens for approximately 10:30 a.m. with the main ceremony beginning at the arena at 11 a.m.

Parade attendees are welcome to attend a gathering that will include a light lunch at Branch 25’s temporary home at The Marconi Cultural Event Centre after the morning’s ceremonies are over.

“Unless COVID rears its head again, right now that is our plan,” Breckenridge said.

With the passage of time, the ceremonies will consist of mostly modern day veterans.

There is now only a small number of Second World War and Korean War veterans attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada, but any elderly local veterans are certainly encouraged to attend if possible.

“We extend the invitation to all veterans. We make every effort to get them there as well as provide seats for them at the Legion if they want to come. If there are any mobility issues they are experiencing, if they reach out to us at the Legion we’ll try and solve it for them,” Breckenridge said.

“We have no way of knowing yet if they’ll show up but there are still some senior vets around. We just recognized two of our 100-year-old vets - Jens Lamour and Ken Anstice - recently at our award ceremony. They’re still kicking and definitely spry for their age.”

“They’re amazing people. The contributions that they’ve made over the years, not only in the military but also afterwards, is nothing short of miraculous,” Breckenridge said.

March for a Veteran will also make a return to local Remembrance Day ceremonies this year.

A homegrown Remembrance Day event launched by Branch 25, it is a way of remembering a veteran that is deceased, marching for a retiree who cannot march anymore if in a long term care home or retirement home or march for a current service member who is with the regular forces on deployment.

A friend or relative of that person can march in honour for them.

Only one person is allowed to march per veteran.

Those interested in participating in March for a Veteran are encouraged to contact Branch 25 as soon as possible at (705) 945-8721 or visit its temporary office at The Marconi to make a reservation for a spot in the parade.

Individuals will be asked to fill out a form for Legion officials in order to identify themselves and who they are marching for.

In addition, this year’s poppy campaign will begin with a flag raising ceremony near the Cenotaph at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 28.

Over $90,000 was raised in the 2021 campaign through the distribution of poppies and wreaths.

Funds raised assist homeless veterans as well as veterans and their families who need other types of support. 

Funds also went to local cadet programs, ARCH and Sault Area Hospital’s Algoma District Cancer Program.

“It was one of our better years,” Breckenridge said.

In the past few years a number of local businesses have decorated their storefronts with Remembrance Day themes to honour veterans who served, in particular those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Branch 25 is encouraging businesses to do so again this year.

“We’re hoping that’s as good or better than last year. We were very moved. Those displays were in the windows, some were out on lawns. They were amazing,” Breckenridge said.

“We’re actually going to present a plaque this year in appreciation for the best display. We were so happy with the work that folks put in. We’re trying to encourage even more participation. Once they’ve completed their display they can take a photo and email it to RCL Branch 25, then we’ll select the best storefront memorial.”