.png/:/rs=h:121,cg:true,m/qt=q:100/ll)
.png/:/rs=h:104,cg:true,m/qt=q:100/ll)
Remembrance Day Services
November 11 Old town Cenotaph:
6.00 am- Cadet vigil starts. Cadets will follow protocols as listed in their operations order.
9.30 am- Queen street closed to vehicular traffic
10.15- Flag will be lowered to half mast
10.15- Family and institution Wreaths will be placed on the cenotaph. Presenters will be asked to limit participants to 2 people and wear a mask. Wreaths will be retrieved from in front of the liquor store as names are called.. Wreaths will be layed two at a time by members of the branch.
Flag raised for formal ceremony (If Necessary some wreaths may be placed after the ceremony in order to meet the timings.)
10.50-Members will gather in front of the liquor store and file onto the road led by a colour party consisting of the Canadian flag and the Legion Branch banner, and at the direction of the parade marshall. The gathering will wear masks and maintain a safe distance.
10.55-play O Canada, followed by a prayer.
11.00- play Last post, lower flag to half mast, Legion banner will step forward and dip flag.
A silence, names of the fallen called.
11.02- play Rouse, raise the flag, and the Legion banner will return to its original place.
11.04- In Flanders’ Fields
11.06- place Official wreaths in order; Memorial Cross families, Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, The Niagara Region, The Town of Niagara on the Lake, The General Nelles Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, The Ladies Auxiliary. Wreaths will be presented to a member of the Legion by representatives.
The Act Of Remembrance, and benediction
11.15- play God Save The Queen.
11.17 the gathering departs
NOTES
The gathering will consist of members of the General Nelles Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and invited representatives from the Air Cadets, Fire department, Guides, scouts, invited dignitaries will observe from an assigned area to the side of the Cenotaph. All will wear masks and be spaced 6ft apart. All will require prior proof of vaccination.
A press release prior to the day designed to inform the public of the activities will include a reminder to wear masks, and if not vaccinated do not attend.
Placing wreaths prior to 11.00 am may keep the size of the audience smaller and the gathering for a shorter period of time. If restrictions change, or the By-law officer permits, those can be placed after the official ones as in the past. The rest of the ceremony will remain the same.
November 11,Queenston Cenotaph.
1.00pm- members will gather on the lawn in front of the Cenotaph, official dignitaries will gather along Queenston street.
1.05 - play O Canada, followed by a prayer
1.10-Play Last Post, lower the flag to half mast, The legion banner will step forward and dip the flag. A silence; the names of the fallen are called.
1.12- play Rouse, the flag is raised, the Legion banner will return to its previous position.
1.14- Place Official Wreaths one at a time, Followed by family and institution wreaths, two at a time
1.30- The Act Of Remembrance followed by a benediction
1.32- play God Save The Queen,
1.34- the gathering departs
Poppy Campaign Season Starts
Friday Nov 29 - Thurs Nov 11th
At this time of the year, our branch of the Royal Canadian Legion salutes the great sacrifice and service of local military veterans.
Due to ongoing covid-19 restrictions, here are this year’s limited planned events:
Decoration Day
Veterans graves were marked with a Canadian Flag by volunteers as usual starting September 1st, but unfortunately, there was no parade or ceremony at the Lakeshore cemetery again this year.
Legion Week
Legion Week was quietly welcomed with a Poppy reporting article in the paper, and the start of acceptance of wreath ordering, but no public open house event was held at this time.
2020 Poppy Reporting
The 2020 Poppy numbers were reported in the papers relating to the Legion Week and Decoration Day article, as well as shared in the September Newsletters, as follows:
Over the past year, the local poppy fund raised $20,877.60.
Of that, $2,223.19 was spent on Youth Ed
$4,000 more went to the local Air Cadet Squadron,
which supports the branch throughout the year, $11,824,
was donated to Veteran Supports, and $5,679.26 was spent on Remembrance.
Veterans Dinner
The annual Veteran’s dinner event is cancelled for this year, an alternative is being considered/discussed.
Poppy Campaign
The annual poppy campaign will start Friday Oct 29th and run until Thursday Nov. 11th, with boxes of poppies available at participating businesses, and canvassers on the streets.
Street Canvassers
The Poppy Campaign is an important event in the Legion calendar year. Volunteers raise valuable donations for our community as well as assisting Veterans and their families. Many of our Veterans who ensured the freedoms that we enjoy today are growing older and some are becoming dependent on our support. We are depending on your support during the two week Poppy Campaign (running from the Last Friday in October to November 11th).
There are many ways you can help during the Poppy Campaign, Volunteers are currently needed to assist the Poppy Committee in Street Canvassing. You can commit as much or as little time as you have available. We are very appreciative of any and all assistance.
Please contact The Branch’s Poppy Committee at Legion124@gmail.com / 905-468-23536 for information about what you can do to help and add your name to the volunteer schedule.
Remember you pledge… Let's make it a success...volunteer today
Honouring Veterans is #our Duty - Show you Support.
Note: Must be: double vaxxed
Seniors Services
Last year, as we were not allowed into the seniors homes, we were able to provide recorded Remembrance Service played on Remembrance Day they were well received.
Remembrance Services
The services at our cenotaphs on November 11th will be held this year, but in a scaled back/limited manner. Wreaths will be laid ahead of time starting at 10am, with the ceremony starting at 11am at the Queen st. Cenotaph. The cadets will provide vigil from first light, unfortunately there will be no parade. The Queenston Service will begin at 1pm, with the wreath laying to follow - to limit the crowd size & time gathered.
We ask all in attendance to maintain 6 feet distances, be masked and vaccinated to gather in public spaces. We also encourage people to watch the Cogeco/YourTV Broadcast from home.
As there was last year, there will be a spot at each cenotaph for all to leave your poppy on Nov 11 as a Personal Act of Remembrance. We encourage everyone to do so, at your convenience.
We will maintain as much planning flexibility as possible, and as circumstances change, so will our plans. We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate the restrictions again this year.
Representatives from the community will gather at the cenotaph.
Poppy Donations
Did you know you can still make a donation to our Poppy Fund throughout the year?
Please mail cheques payable to RCL Br124, with 'Poppy donation' as the memo to the branch's P.O box at #714 - 410 King St. NOTL, L0S1J0.