Remembrance Day 2020: A year for Observance from a distance

Prince Rupert residents will not gather in numbers at the Court House Today 
but still will a pause to reflect and pay tribute to those who gave of their lives
in Service of the past, or continue to serve the country to this day.

This morning as we have in the years and decades before, Canadians will pause at the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour of this eleventh day of November.

This year however, in the midst  of COVID, we gather across this land in smaller numbers, socially distant but collectively as one sharing an hour together to reflect on the call to duty of those through the last century who have sacrificed their lives in service for their country.

In addition to the annual look to the past, those pausing to remember at 11 AM, will be providing a salute not only for those that have served the nation in the wars of the past; but for those who today uphold our military commitments and perform our law enforcement services across the nation.

As we observed on Tuesday, in Prince Rupert, the local Remembrance Day ceremony will take place as always at the Court House cenotaph, a smaller service of remembrance than those of years past, with a request for the public not to attend, though as it has been through generations now, the wreath laying ceremony will start at 11 AM.

And while we are asked to stay home for this year, noted towards an online stream cast of today's ceremony from the Court House has been relayed by SD52 through a Zoom presentation set to start at 10;45AM.

You can find out how to access that event online here.

Those looking to spend some time to reflect and review the sacrifice that Remembrance Day provides for can make use of a number of online resources for their journey on this solemn day.

Veterans Affairs Canada introduced the theme freedom for the 2020 remembrance, calling our attention to the price that was paid by generations before us to Stand on Guard to protect those freedoms.

More of their video library in honour of those who served can be found here.

Veterans Affairs Canada has also been profiling some of the historical moments of the nations military heritage, making available a number of links for Canadians to explore.

A Closer Look
Heroes Remember
A Day of Remembrance
Canada's Military History
Postcards for Peace
Profiles of Courage

One important historical feature to take time to review is the online version of the Books of Remembrance, the moving listings of Canada's War Dead that can be found in the Peace Tower of the Centre Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

The Virtual War Memorial an online reference provides the opportunity for Canadians to search the books or to seek out information through a search engine.

You can explore that resource page here.

More resources on Canada's military history from Veterans Affairs Canada can be found here.

The National Film Board is also providing a number of their films and documentaries on Canada's past war efforts, peace keeping missions and other areas of interest related to Canada's military.

The front page of the NFB site offers the links to a variety of options that can add to your awareness of Remembrance Day and why we pause to reflect.

Social media is also marking the Remembrance Day observations, with #CanadaRemembers a good place to start your search on relevant items of remembrance today.

For residents of the North Coast, a stop at the Royal Canadian Legion at 812 Third Avenue West  for their annual Open House, is normally part of the observance for the day by many in the Prince Rupert area .

This year however owing to COVID, that too will change, though the challenges facing the Legion will continue on and you can help in their local works with a donation, you can also contact them at 250-622-2017 to learn more about what they offer and how you can help.

On Remembrance Day the Prince Rupert Court House Lawn continues to make for a very special place for reflection on the sacrifice of those of the past, which ensured that we can enjoy our freedoms of today.

Once the official part of the day is complete, the rest of the day, the week, months and year is yours. 

You can drop by the Court House at any time, in a socially distant way, to pay your own tribute of remembrance to those who sacrificed so much for us through battles past and continue to serve today.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place; and in the sky 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly 

Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the Dead. Short days ago 

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie 

In Flanders Fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 

To you from failing hands we throw 

The torch; be yours to hold it high. 

If ye break faith with us who die 

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 

In Flanders Fields.

John McCrae

See our Remembrance Day Wrap up page here, for links to a range of other regional stories on Remembrance Day 2020.