One Vernon councillor ponders about having some kind of Remembrance Day ceremony returned to Cenotaph Park downtown.
Catherine Lord was responding to some outcries on social media from residents condemning the yearly decision to hold the ceremony indoors at Kal Tire Place – which has been done for nearly a decade – instead of at the war memorial on 30th Street.
“The formal ceremony was moved to Kal Tire Place because there were many people attending and there were more seniors with mobility issues and such,” said Lord. “But the actual formal Cenotaph monument was put in place outdoors. Even though we’ve accommodated people by moving it to Kal Tire Place, it wouldn’t hurt us to have some kind of recognition at the Cenotaph.”
Mayor Akbal Mund said such a decision is best left to the folks at the Royal Canadian Legion.
“They represent the veterans,” said Mund. “I don’t want to make this a city initiative. What happens if they disagree? Do we have a ceremony at the (B.C.) Dragoons site on 25th Avenue? Do we have one at the cemetery? We could have ceremonies at three or four different spots. The Legion should decide.”
Vernon Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 president Bill Balcaen said the Legion is happy to host the annual Remembrance Day ceremony indoors at Kal Tire Place.
“I saw older men, veterans, who would walk in the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Nov. 11 and they had trouble walking,” said Balcaen. “It’s much more comfortable at Kal Tire Place.
“We get a lot of participation there, we see a lot of smiling faces and families.”
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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