Legion set to host National Remembrance Day Ceremony with visual salute to veterans

OTTAWA – A special visual salute to veterans who gave their lives during the Second World War will highlight Canada’s National Remembrance Day Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of that war, and of the liberation of the Netherlands.

“We must never forget the sacrifices of so many Canadians who literally handed us the freedoms we enjoy today,” Dominion President Berkley Lawrence said. “We thank all Canadians who attend a ceremony or take two minutes of silence to remember them.”

In Ottawa, National Ceremony proceedings will begin at the National War Memorial at 10:30 a.m. and will include a veterans’ parade, marching contingents and a 21-gun salute. A meaningful fly past of four CF-18 Hornet aircraft, and a single RCMP Black Hawk helicopter will also mark the occasion.

This year’s National Silver Cross Mother Nancy Payne will lay a wreath on behalf of all military mothers who have lost children in service to their country. The passing of her son, Corp. Randy Payne, will also be acknowledged.

Among special guests and dignitaries will be:

• Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada
• The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
• The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada
• The Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan
• Legion Dominion President Berkley Lawrence
• Representatives of the Youth of Canada
• Members of many veterans’ groups

After the proceedings, thousands of guests in attendance will place a poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This year marks its 25th anniversary. The ceremony will be broadcast live on major television networks and on the Legion’s Facebook Live page. Countless other local ceremonies will take place across the country. To find one, please visit the Legion’s Ceremony Locator at Legion.ca.

On Remembrance Day evening, many thousands of animated poppies – each representing one of Canada’s fallen – will cascade down the senate building at the National Arts Centre one final time, until midnight. Lapel poppies can still be obtained at thousands of poppy boxes throughout the country, and can be delivered to doorsteps through donations via the Legion’s new storefront on Amazon.ca.

Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S., and Europe. With more than 270,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers.