Legion reverts to backup plan to mark WWII anniversaries

If you’ve ever wondered what thoughts are flowing through the minds of legion members as they stand in silence during the laying of wreaths in remembrance, André Boudreau can tell you that even when no words are being spoken, their minds speak volumes.

One of five legionnaires from Wedgeport Branch 155 of the Royal Canadian Legion who stood — albeit far apart — on a rainy May 5 morning in Yarmouth County to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland and the Netherlands, Boudreau’s thoughts were many.

“What’s going through my mind is how hard the Canadians fought, but also in the case of the liberation of Holland, how much the people had suffered during the years they were occupied by the Germans — to the point that at the end of the war, many of the citizens were dying of hunger ... so you think of the suffering that was there."

Boudreau has been to Holland and says the way Canadians are received is remarkable. “People that you don’t know very quickly become like friends,” he said.

Given his 40-year military career, Boudreau’s thoughts also focused on others.

“Where I’ve just retired in the last few years, I also think of the people we lost last week,” he said, referring to the six Canadian Armed Forces members who died in a Cyclone helicopter crash off the coast of Greece. “We’re still losing people today. All of those things go through your mind.”

One thought that crossed the minds of the Wedgeport Legion was never not to recognize the May 5 liberation anniversary, or the May 8 anniversary of VE-DAY (Victory in Europe Day). But because of the COVID-19 pandemic things have to be done differently.

“We kept it down to five people, which is the rule in Nova Scotia, and social distancing,” said Boudreau, secretary of the Wedgeport legion branch who served as emcee for the May 5 ceremony. “Ordinarily, we would have had the public invited and would have had a reception afterwards but because of social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic we weren’t able to do that ... It was felt that the dates are so important in history and important to Canadians we should, at the very least, do a small ceremony.”

When the time is right a public event will take place.

Instead, for now, on May 5 the Wedgeport legion members laid two wreaths at the Tusket cenotaph and one wreath at five other war memorials where tulips were planted last fall to commemorate the liberation of Holland. At the Tusket cenotaph the Last Post was played, a moment of silence was observed and the Act of Remembrance was recited. The five legionnaires present were branch president Clinton Saulnier along with Warren Surette, Rita Doucette, Cyrille Lblanc and Boudreau. The other memorials or cenotaphs where wreaths were laid included Quinan, Sainte-anne-duruisseau, Amirault’s Hill, Surette’s Island and Comeau’s Hill.

A wreath was also laid at the Carleton cenotaph by Don Mccumber, also a Legion 155 member.

Wreath layings will again happen on May 8 for VE-DAY.

A short ceremony involving the five Wedgeport legion members also took place at the Wedgeport hall where Boudreau thanked Veterans Affairs Canada, which had previously provided the legion branch with a grant of $6,343 — under the Commemorative Partnership Program — to honour those who have served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace, and to keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians.

Because for now people can’t come together in large ceremonies and receptions to mark these significant anniversaries, Boudreau was asked what people can do to observe these occasions. His response was simple.

“I would suggest that they just think about it,” he said, pointing out they can read about it online and watch programs and documentaries that have been made. “Anything that people can do to remember is important.”