But as the ongoing pandemic rages on, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 once again decided to take the safest route possible with their annual Remembrance Day ceremonies on Thursday morning, hosting a small gathering of dignitaries at Jones Parkview Funeral Home for a scaled-back service that was also streamed on Facebook Live.
It was almost identical to the successful ceremony at the height of the pandemic in 2020, only this time patrons were able to gather at the Legion to watch the event live and in person, with necessary precautions, of course.
The service was conducted by Padre Rev. Doug Shepherd, who began the event by speaking towards the 100th anniversary of the poppy being adopted as the symbol of the Legion.
He continued by honouring those who served in the many conflicts over the years, and included those who worked in essential services throughout the pandemic as those worthy of praise.
“From the cashier at the food store to gas station attendants to intensive care unit staff and all the others, it was they who said ‘ready, aye ready’ when the call for help went out,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd also touched on the history of human conflict and how the dream is ongoing for long-lasting peace in our time.
“Our hope, of course is that the trumpet will never again be used to call us to arms, but that’s more than unlikely,” Shepherd said. “Breaks of peace in human history are few and far between, but the hope is there and the dream is now. The Canadian Army Journal says the world has known only 292 years of peace in the last 6,000 years. Since 650 B.C. there have been 1,700 arms races, and of the 1,700 only 16 of those arms races have not ended in war… but we still have the dream.”
The event continued with the Last Post and Rouse by Capt. (Retired) Rick Elmer along with the Lament by piper Michelle Gallagher, both of whom have been longtime participants at Remembrance Day and Decoration Day ceremonies over the years.
The traditional laying of wreaths concluded the ceremony, with the wreaths previously positioned and participants saluting the cenotaph at the front of the chapel as each group was called.
You can watch the full Moose Jaw Remembrance Day 2021 ceremony by clicking right here.
