Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

The Oliver Legion pinned its first poppy today on Mayor Martin Johansen to kick off the campaign leading up to Remembrance Day.

Dignitaries included representatives from the Osoyoos Indian Band, Oliver Fire Department, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the Oliver RCMP, Member of Parliament, and the Okanagan Correctional Centre.

Poppy chairman Patrick Hampson said this year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies on Nov. 11 will be very similar to last year’s scaled-back event due to the pandemic.

He noted there will be no assembly at the community centre and no parade march to the cenotaph.

Hampson, who is also Sergeant at Arms, said any parade they have in front of the cenotaph will be short in duration. This may include marching the colours and service representatives, followed by a roll call.

Members of the public can watch the ceremony from a distance.

Hampson said there will be official wreath laying, but none from the public.

“The only wreaths that are going to be laid will be for the federal government, the provincial government, the Osoyoos Indian Band (etc.).”

After the ceremony, there will be a public tea at the Legion Hall, where masks and proof of vaccination will be required. There will also be a sign-in sheet for contact tracing purposes.

Remembering the toll that past wars had on people, Hampson said that veterans weren’t the only ones who suffered.

“Families . . . they also suffered in a lot of different ways, psychological ways. Families broke up for different reasons, families were separated because the husband or wife was away.”

Estelle Pavan, interim president of the Oliver Legion, spoke about how COVID has impacted their operations and activities.

“Because everything is on hold, you lose momentum, right? So, we are sort of starting over and we’re starting slowly, of course. I’m hoping that with starting up again that the veterans will appreciate the fact that we’re still here.”

Pavan said they need new members, which is hard to obtain these days.

Part of the problem is that young people think the Legion is an old institution, she pointed out, adding they are always trying to involve the younger generation.

Local dignitaries gather in front of the Oliver cenotaph for a group photo to promote the poppy campaign leading up to Remembrance Day.
(Photo by Lyonel Doherty)