Port Coquitlam residents will have longer to remember veterans at the city cemetery, after politicians altered a bylaw to allow more days for decorations on veterans’ graves.
But they won’t see traditional Remembrance Day events at the city’s cenotaph.
Recently, the city approved a three-week grace period for the placement of poppies and other Remembrance Day mementoes on graves at the cemetery — two weeks longer than for other national holidays.
However, the annual laying of wreaths at the city cenotaph has been cancelled along with a ceremony at Wilson Centre, according to the PoCo Legion Branch 133 president.
“We have to do what we can to keep people safe,” said Drew Lydiard, who said the legion is working with the public health officer to ensure COVID-19 protocols are in place for any recognition ceremonies.
Members of the public can visit the cenotaph in front of city hall on Shaughnessy Street on their own during Remembrance Day. Corporate wreaths will be laid there that morning and people can pay their respects and leave a poppy.
However, Lydiard stresses that people shouldn’t gather at the cenotaph and, if they do show up, to respect social distancing.
The legion is planning a small event for a limited number of guests outdoors at the legion. It will involve local veterans, a piper, and representatives of municipal, provincial and federal governments who will be laying wreaths.
Numbers are being kept to 50 people or less.
“We want to make room for our veterans first,” Lydiard said.
However, there will be an afternoon and evening gathering and the PoCo legion is accepting reservations for two seatings for guests. There won’t be live music, although a piper may play outdoors, and strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place, including limits to six people at a table and no mingling.
The Poppy Campaign is going ahead at this time and tentative dates have been set for November.
For more information, visit pocolegion.ca
As for the new cemetery bylaw, mementoes of Remembrance can be laid on graves one week prior and two weeks after Remembrance Day.
Lydiard welcomed the idea, offering people a private — and safe — way to commemorate Remembrance Day. However, he encouraged people to keep their groups small.
“People need to express themselves, but we need to do it cautiously.”
The city’s original idea was to extend the time for Remembrance Day poppies on graves to promote the ‘No Stone Left Alone’ tribute to late veterans which honours and recognizes the sacrifices veterans have made serving Canada.
In 2019, the “No Stone Left Alone” program saw more than 12,000 students participate in the initiative at 121 cemeteries across Canada, honouring over 64,000 Canadian Armed Forces members.
However, this year, the 10th annual commemoration ceremonies will be affected by COVID-19.
According to the website, ceremonies will not be open to the public, and likely students will not be able to visit the headstones together to lay poppies.
However, other programs for students are recommended, including hosting virtual discussions with a veteran via video conferencing, or creating a “Remembrance Wall” of poppies in honour of the community’s veterans.
