COVID-19 has cast its influence on Remembrance Day Services for November 11, 2020. Regardless of the regulations brought by public health officials to prevent the spread of the virus, we must take the time to remember our veterans on the 11th month, the 11th day and the 11th hour just as we did every other year before COVID-19's arrival.
In a letter dated August 2020, the Legion Dominion Command said “The importance of a live ceremony honouring our veterans and their sacrifices is considered paramount by the Legion, especially during the 75th anniversary of the Second World War.”
The 2020 National Remembrance Day Ceremony will be performed live at the National War Memorial on Nov. 11, 2020.
However, the Legion Dominion Command recommended branches of local Royal Canadian Legions across the country to follow provincial and federal directions on the limits of outside and indoor gatherings. Two-metre distances were ruled as necessary at all events in Canada. Cadets and Juniors were prohibited from attending ceremonies anywhere in the country.
This year, even members of the Canadian Armed Forces received limitations on the numbers of personnel allowed to drill together, including during national parades honouring the veterans on Remembrance Day.
On this note, there won’t be any CAF or veteran parades for Remembrance Day 2020, which is tragic.
The alterations to this year’s Remembrance Day are unhappy ones, yet these regulations are important to follow as a second wave of the virus has appeared in different parts of Canada since the late summer and early fall.
The National Remembrance Day Ceremony is planned to be stripped down to four armed sentries and one sentinel (Nursing Sister) at the National Monument. There’ll be a trumpeter to play the lament, but the 2020 Colour Party will be reduced to the Canadian, Legion, Union Jack, Red Ensign, NATO and UN flags. A Vice Regal Party will stand in front to face the memorial with wreaths.
There will be wreath bearers at the national service in Ottawa and the media are invited too, but there won’t be any spectators at this year’s Remembrance Day Services in Ottawa.
For the 2020 Remembrance Ceremony, wreath bearers across Canada were asked to preplace their wreaths at their respective monuments and cenotaphs or leave them after the ceremonies concluded.
In a sad but hopeful conclusion, the letter from the Legion Dominion Command read: “The modifications we as Legionnaires will experience in our planning and conduct of a Remembrance Day Ceremony are difficult, but not insurmountable. Following the local area restrictions imposed due to the pandemic needs to be paramount in concern of the safety of all involved. However, with a reduction in people at the ceremony location, be it the National Memorial or your local cenotaph, (…) an adjustment in the format will allow us to honour our veterans and the sacrifices made regardless of the pandemic.”
Signed, DEC, Provincial Executive Directors of all Royal Canadian Legion Branches.
In previous years, the venue for Assiniboia’s Remembrance Day Services in Assiniboia has usually been St. George’s Parish Hall.
Since July 28, 2020, indoor and outdoor gatherings in Saskatchewan had a maximum of 30 people, providing a two-metre separation could be sustained at all times between individuals who weren’t in the same household.
The 2020 Remembrance Ceremony in town will be held at the cenotaph outside of the Asaskan Complex starting at 10:30-45 a.m. on November 11 with a limited number of people allowed to attend.
Because the wreaths will either being preplaced or left after the ceremony, this year’s gathering held at the cenotaph located near the Assiniboia Town Office will also be much shorter than in preceding years.
The limitations on outdoor and indoor gatherings, along with social distancing measures, have transformed important annual events across Canada, including Remembrance Day.
Regardless of the 2020 pandemic, Canadians shouldn’t forget to show their respect for our veterans this year on November 11 as in times past, but public safety must be kept in mind too.
