Olds service changes
Due to COVID-19 pandemic protocols, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 105 in Olds will be honouring veterans on Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) during a closed ceremony.
However, if the weather is good enough, a brief ceremony open to the public will be held at the Cenotaph after the closed service. That ceremony is tentatively projected to occur at about 1 p.m.
The closed service will be held at 10:15 a.m. in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 105. As per COVID-19 protocols, it will be limited to 100 people only, including the executive, veterans and representatives of emergency services such as RCMP and firefighters and perhaps their spouses.
During the ceremony, wreaths will be laid by a representative of the Royal Canadian Legion.
No Stone Left Alone cancelled
The IODE has made the decision not to hold the No Stone Left Alone ceremony at the Olds cemetery this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect everyone involved.
Normally this would be hosted in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion and some schools in Olds.
"It is regrettable as it is our mission to honour the sacrifice and service of Canadian military by educating students and placing poppies on the headstones of veterans every November," reads a statement from the IODE.
"We encourage you and your family to take time on November 11 to remember those that sacrificed greatly for us."
Sundre service changes
Although there will be no community Remembrance Day service this year, the local legion will host a closed ceremony and officials encourage the public to observe a minute of silence.
“We’re planning to do a very private ceremony amongst the legion members themselves honouring those members of our community that have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Royal Canadian Legion Sundre Branch #223 president Christina Ferguson.
“But we are not asking any of the public to attend because of COVID,” Ferguson said earlier this month during a phone interview.
Since indoor gatherings are restricted to 50 people, which would include legion members and volunteers, along with other protocols such as maintaining the physical distance requirement of two metres and wearing face coverings, she said proceeding with a public service was deemed unfeasible.
“We just don’t think it’s practical to have.”
Carstairs, Cremona changes
The Carstairs Royal Canadian Legion will be hosting a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph at 10:30 a.m on Nov. 11.
The Cremona Royal Canadian Legion has cancelled Remembrance Day Services for 2020. Services have been replaced with an outdoor wreath display. The branch wreaths will be positioned across the lawns and hillside west of the branch building (to be visible from Highway 22) from dawn until dusk on November 11.
