Marg Boldt
Legion poppy chair
Special to The Lake Report

At this time of the year the Niagara-on-the-Lake branch of the Royal Canadian Legion usually salutes the great sacrifice and service of local military veterans.

Starting in mid-September we mark the graves of veterans with a maple leaf and a Canadian flag, and end with our remembrance services honouring our fallen heroes. Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we cannot hold many of our ceremonies in our usual way.

Here are this year’s planned events:

Graves will be marked as usual. This started on Sept. 1, but there will not be a parade at Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery. We will instead provide an update of our ongoing memories project in conjunction with the NOTL Museum. We have also introduced our new website.

Our annual poppy campaign will start Oct. 30, with boxes of poppies available at participating businesses.

Our remembrance services for seniors cannot take place but we are investigating ways to help our seniors reflect on their past.

The annual veteran’s dinner is cancelled for this year.

The services at our cenotaphs on Nov. 11 will not be held this year. Instead there will be an invitation-only service held at the Legion monument at 410 King St. This will be livestreamed online. 

Wreaths will be laid at each cenotaph at sunset Nov. 10 and we request those who wish to offer a wreath contact the branch any time before Nov. 2. We will publish a list of wreaths in our local papers and on websites.

There will be a spot at each cenotaph for all to leave your poppy on Nov. 11 as a personal act of remembrance. We will maintain as much planning flexibility as possible and as circumstances change, so will our plans.