Remembrance Day ceremonies and events scaled back for second year

CHEK
WatchRemembrance Day ceremonies and activities are going to be scaled back for a second year because of the pandemic. Kendall Hanson reports.

Remembrance Day ceremonies and activities are going to be scaled back for a second year because of the pandemic.

But organizers say it’s as important as ever for people to still mark the day even if it’s watching a Remembrance Day Ceremony on TV.

“What we want to do is make sure that people remember the cost of war. There are a lot of people that don’t come back and there’s a lot of people that come back that are broken,” said Lewis Forth, President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256.

Although most people have now been vaccinated there will be many older veterans at the ceremonies, so the BC Legions would prefer a smaller turnout.

“We encourage people to actually stay at home and watch it at least for this year because we’re trying to nip the COVID-19 in the bud. We want to get rid of it. We don’t want to encourage gatherings,” said Forth.

There will be ceremonies in many communities across Vancouver Island with Canadian Forces supporting from the water and the air, depending on the weather, and on the ground.

“I take it as our solemn pledge to remember our fallen and remember those who came before us. It was some of my direction to make sure we got out this year, taking into account all the covid restrictions absolutely but we wanted to be on the ground at as many cenotaphs and as many celebrations, we could be at,” said Col. Bryn Elliott, the Wing Commander at CFB 19 Wing Comox.

Col. Bryn says this is an especially important year to observe our countries sacrifices.

“It’s the 10th anniversary of finishing our combat mission in Afghanistan. It’s the 80th anniversary of the defence of Hong Kong, the 105th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme so there’s a lot of really important dates that this represents this year,” said Col. Bryn.

Many BC Legion branches will also be holding events, some open to the public and those attending will need to show their B.C. Vaccine Card.

CHEK News will livestream the ceremony at the B.C. Legislature cenotaph Thursday, Nov. 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Kendall HansonKendall Hanson

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