While Remembrance Day might be more familiar as a way to commemorate those who fought in battles for Canada’s freedom, the first Sunday in June every summer brings another special opportunity.
Decoration Day is held by Royal Canadian Legion branches all over the country as a way to remember those who fought in battles before the First World War, as Canada was finding its way as a modern nation in some of its earliest days.
The first Decoration Day took place in June 1890, when veterans of the Fenian Raids more than 20 years earlier placed decorations at the Canadian Volunteers Monument in Toronto. The following year, the public took notice, with 30,000 people taking part in remembrance ceremonies during the 25th anniversary of the Raids.
“Soldiers wanted some kind of recognition after the battles they went into, and this was long before Remembrance Day was even thought of,” said Bob Travale, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 president. “So they had a tradition every June when all the veterans could come out and wear their medals and show that they fought for their country. I can remember as a little kid, there were many more Second World War and First World War veterans and they would parade on Decoration Day. So to us, it’s an annual tradition and we do this in honour of our veterans.”
A major part of the event is the placement of Canadian flags on gravestones of service members, with over 1,100 alone placed in Rosedale Cemetery, where the Moose Jaw Decoration Day ceremony took place.
“And even in the East End cemetery, there’s a lot of history there,” added Travale. “There are RCMP in there going back to the Batoche Rebellion, because Moose Jaw was used at that time as the hospital when that was happening.”
As is tradition, members of the Saskatchewan Dragoons stood sentinel during the event, holding fast in the sweltering late-morning heat on Sunday. Various groups and organizations including the City of Moose Jaw, RCMP, Anavets and Legion laid wreaths at the Rosedale cairn in honour of those who had fallen.
Travale hopes that as time goes on Decoration Day will continue to be an event that helps those remember everyone who fought for Canada..
“It’s important to us to keep the public aware that there are veterans who died in battle and are laying in cemeteries across Canada,” he said. “This is a very important day for us and it will always mean a lot.”
