Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today file photo

By Dylana Kneeshaw

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020

‘By Veterans – For Veterans’: Remembrance Day format adjusted for Kamloops ceremony

Oct 10, 2020 | 2:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — Many changes have been made around how this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony will be held in Kamloops.

Branch 52 of the Royal Canadian Legion says in a release the ceremony will be ‘By Veterans – For Veterans.’ Hosted by the local Legion, the City of Kamloops, and the ANAVETS Unit 290, attendance will be invite-only. The official ceremony will be held at the Battle Street Cenotaph- with up to 50 people.

Local dignitaries will be invited to the in-person ceremony to lay wreaths, and other than those representatives, only veterans will be in attendance at the Cenotaph.

To view this year’s ceremony, the event will be lived streamed for the public on the Kamloops Legion Facebook page, and on CFJC TV. The Legion adds that it regrets having to exclude anyone from being part of the Remembrance Day ceremony, and hopes this format is a one-time occurrence.

The format of the ceremony will be the same – complete with a Cenotaph Guard posted, the Colour Party marching on, and performances of ‘O Canada’, and ‘Last Post’.

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Changes this year include:

• no public gathering at Riverside Park
• no parade
• no fly-past by the 419 Squadron out of Cold Lake
• the public will not be invited to attend the ceremony
• large contingents of military, police, and first responders will not be present
• no wreath laying by the general public

Members of the public can still order wreaths through the Legion’s poppy campaign office (250 374 0623), and those will be laid at the Cenotaph by members prior to the ceremony.

Poppy boxes will also be distributed throughout the Kamloops area for donations to continue as normal. Proceeds from poppy and wreath donations go to programs that support Veterans and their families.

Veterans who would like to attend the ceremony are asked to contact the Kamloops Legion. Preference will be given to WW2, Korea, Afghanistan Veterans, however all are encouraged to inquire about attending. Inquiries can be sent to Remembrance Day Co-ordinator, Craig Thomson at craig.thomson@legionbcyukon.ca.