By Kurt Lewis
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—As with every important date this year across Ontario and throughout the world, honouring our troops and veterans on Remembrance Day will look a little different this year. Each branch has chosen to implement various strategies to minimize the sizes of the gatherings and enforce social distancing regulations for everybody’s safety.
Dunnville
The Dunnville Branch will have what Veteran Service Officer, Chairman, and Cadet Liaison Brent O’Connor calls “a very short and sweet ceremony” that will not be open to the public at the cenotaph. There will be a colour guard, the national anthem, the Last Post, a three-volley salute, and tentatively, the royal anthem. The Legion will lay only three wreaths, and asks anyone who would also like to lay a wreath to do so before the ceremony begins at 10:30a.m. or after it has finished at 11:30 a.m.
In the days leading up to Remembrance Day, the Dunnville Legion will also be offering poppies that may be purchased at the Royal Bank, as well as face masks and coloured paracord bracelets representing PTSD and other issues that continue to negatively impact veterans. Stickers will be distributed to elementary schools, while both pins and stickers will be provided to Maple Grove Place and Grandview Lodge.
Caledonia
Caledonia Legion President Dennis Zebiere also confirmed that their ceremony will be closed to the public. There will be a mini-celebration at Caledonia’s cenotaph at 11 a.m. with opening prayers, the Last Post, and a reading of only the names of veterans who have fallen in 2020. Wreaths will be pre-placed. After the ceremony, some of the service will continue at the Legion for veterans, members, firefighters, and EMS. Because of the circumstances, there won’t be a pipe band or cadets, masks are required inside the Legion building, and the gathering is limited to 50 people.
The Caledonia Legion’s poppy boxes can now be found at local businesses around the community.
Hageresville
The Hagersville Legion Branch issued a newsletter announcing that brief ceremonies would take place at both Hagersville’s cenotaph and the veteran plots at the Hagersville Cemetery. Wreaths will be pre-positioned at the cenotaph, and the names of the fallen will be read, followed by the Last Post. The Hagersville Legion will be livestreaming their service due to limitations on gatherings. The livestream is to begin at 10:45 a.m. on the Facebook page of its community partner, Nova Mutual. Find the livestream on Facebook: facebook.com/novamutual.
Cayuga
The Cayuga Legion’s service will also not be open to the public, nor will it be at the cenotaph this year. The ceremony will be for a small group of members, again with pre-laid wreaths. There will be a moment of silence and some music played. The local Foodland, Home Hardware, and Tim Hortons, as well as other local businesses, are expected to sell poppies as usual.
Jarvis
The Jarvis Lions Club and the Jarvis ministerial will broadcast a virtual Remembrance Day service on Wednesday, November 11 at 10:45 a.m.
“All of what you see and hear will be local people leading in paying tribute to the local soldiers who died for our freedom and offering prayer for their families and peace in our country,” said Bruce Van Der Molen.
The event will be livestreamed on the Jarvis Lions Club’s Facebook page and various other local Facebook outlets.
