The Royal Canadian Legion in Castlegar will remember Queen Elizabeth II with a service Monday at 11 a.m. at the cenotaph.
Branch vice-president Dean Burdeyny says it will be much like a Remembrance Day service, but shorter.
Although he was still lining people up on Thursday to attend, he said they should have a bugler and a piper. After the marching of the colours, O Canada will be sung followed by two minutes of silence, acts of remembrance, and prayers by the Legion pastor. A Legionnaire and a representative will place a wreath for the Queen.
“Unlike Remembrance Day, it will only be the one wreath,” Burdeyny says. “One of the reasons we’re doing this is out of respect for her lifetime of service, including her military service during the Second World War.
“Also, we will be singing God Save the King for the first time in 70 years.”
At the end of the service, free poppies will be available if you want to place one on the wreath. The wreath will be left in place until sundown, at which time the flag will be raised from half-mast to full mast.
Burdeyny says the ceremony follows an established protocol and similar services will take place at cenotaphs across Canada. He expects it to last 15 to 20 minutes, and says attendees will include RCMP officers, firefighters in dress uniform, Legionnaires, the mayor and MLA, or their representatives.
