London’s Remembrance Day service downtown will look more as it did before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The public is being welcomed back to the Cenotaph in Victoria Park Friday morning to help pay tribute to Canada’s veterans and war dead.
It is the first time since 2019 the annual ceremony hasn’t been scaled back. In 2020, COVID-19 restrictions meant only a couple dozen veterans and dignitaries could attend, while the public was asked to stay home and watch a live-stream of the service. Last year, spread of the virus kept the ceremony as an invitation-only affair. Now, with virtually all health restrictions gone, hundreds of soldiers and veterans will attend with thousands of community members expected to crowd around as spectators.
“What we are hanging onto a little bit are the lessons we’ve learned from COVID, in that we have an older demographic with some of our veterans, particularly the World War II ones, getting on,” said Randy Warden, veteran and chair of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day steering committee. “We don’t want to expose them unnecessarily [to a virus], so we do ask people that are not well to please stay at home and watch it on one of the TV stations or listen on radio and if you’re not sure please wear a mask. We don’t want to put our veterans in harm’s way.”
With the return to a traditional ceremony comes the return of the veterans’ parade. Veterans, Canadian Forces personnel, police officers, and cadets will march from the Delta Armouries on Dundas Street, turn north onto Wellington Street and continue to the Cenotaph. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
That will be followed by the Remembrance Day service which will include a performance by the Salvation Army Jubilee Brass, a land acknowledgement, the playing of Last Post and two minutes of silence. The laying of the wreaths will follow a reading of the poem In Flanders Fields. Second World War Spitfire fighter pilot Tom Hennessy has been selected as this year’s honorary veteran.
“He is going to lay a wreath on behalf of all veterans,” said Warden. “Of those wreaths that are laid we are trying to make sure that we recognize the right people.”
Hennessy marked his 100th birthday earlier this year by walking 100 miles to raise funds for homeless veterans. Londoners cheered him on as he completed his “walk of gratitude” in Victoria Park on Canada Day. The initiative raised more than $55,000.
Carolyn Wilson will again lay a wreath as London’s Silver Cross mother. Her son, Trooper Mark Wilson, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2006.
Veterans from Parkwood Institute will take in the ceremony on board buses that will be moved closer to the monument than in past years. Prior to the pandemic, the buses were parked along Dufferin Avenue in front of Canada Life which did not provide a clear view of the service. They were able to park closer during the two years of pared-down ceremonies and is a change that will now be permanent.
According to Warden, a month ago the committee only expected three buses of elderly veterans from Parkwood, but that number has shot up as the day nears.
“I guess they are getting itchy to come out and participate because we are going to have five buses of veterans from Parkwood this year,” said Warden.
Several roads in the downtown will be closed off leading up to and during the ceremony. Dufferin Avenue from Clarence Street to Waterloo Street and Wellington Street from Central Avenue to Queens Avenue will be blocked off from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dundas Street from Waterloo Street to Wellington Street, and Wellington Street from Dundas Street to Wolfe Street, will be shutdown from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Although rain is forecast to move into the region before the ceremony comes to a close, Warden is optimistic Londoners will show up to pay tribute to those who have served their country.
“We find veterans come out regardless of the weather because all are reminded that although we hope for good weather those who fought during war were out there regardless of the weather,” said Warden. “So the veterans tend to want to come out regardless of the weather and Londoners recognize. Knowing that the veterans are coming out, they come out to support and it is so appreciated.”
People who cannot attend Friday’s Remembrance Day ceremony in-person can watch it on Rogers TV. They can also honour veterans by stopping at 11 a.m. to observe two minutes of silence and wearing a poppy.
After the parade and ceremony, Londoners are encouraged to visit legions across the city for where additional gatherings with veterans will be held.
