While attendance at the city’s Remembrance Day ceremony will be by invitation only, Londoners are encouraged to honour Canada’s veterans from home.
This year’s ceremony will be conducted at the London Cenotaph in Victoria Park on Wednesday, but participation has been restricted and spectators are discouraged from attending due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Randy Warden, veteran and chair of London’s Remembrance Day steering committee, said only 25 people were invited to attend this year's ceremony in person.
"It was a challenge because we had 550 people on parade last year and then thousands attending as spectators," said Warden. "This year with 25 we have eight officials wreaths that will be laid that represent our elected officials, the Canadian military, the RCMP, the Legion, and the Silver Cross Mother."
Second World War Veteran Pete Schussler was selected to represent all veterans at London's service.
"He's a Second World War, Korea and peace keeping veteran. We can think of no one more distinguished to represent the veteran community than Pete," Warden said of the now 95-year-old.
With this year’s Remembrance Day marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, its significance has not been forgotten by the City of London. To ensure Londoners are able to honour veterans and their sacrifices, the city will be live-streaming the Remembrance Day ceremony on Rogers TV and CTV London.
A fly over by a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft has also been arranged to honour veterans in the city. The aircraft, flown by a London-native, will arrive from CFB Trenton around 11 a.m.
"He is going to be flying at only 500 ft above the tops of the roofs which is the lowest he's allowed to do and he'll also be flying at 130 knots which is as slow as he can go," said Warden. "For any veterans, they are going to recognize that speed and altitude. That is the speed that paratroopers would be jumping out of the back of that aircraft. This pilot will be lowering his ramp so you can visualize paratroopers jumping out of the back during a time of conflict."
The C-130 Hercules will arrive in the south-end of the city, tipping its wings as it flies over Parkwood Hospital as a tribute to the veterans that live there. It will then go over the downtown cenotaph before flying to the east over Wolseley Barracks. The London flyover will end at the London Airport which was home to Crumblin Air Force Base during the Second World War. In all, Warden anticipates the aircraft will be over London for roughly 20 minutes.
While a number of Remembrance Day ceremony traditions will still take place, including the laying of wreaths and the posting of four armed sentries at the Cenotaph, a marching parade will not be held. As well, those attending the ceremony will be required to work within current pandemic restrictions, such as social distancing.
Those who are unable to watch the live-streamed event are encouraged to show their support to local veterans by wearing a poppy and publicly observing two minutes of silence.
"We are asking Londoners at 11 a.m. to please go stand outside the front door of their residence or business. Stand there for two minutes and observe a moment of silence. As you stand there look left and right down your street and I hope you see your neighbours out there with you," said Warden.
"This day to me represents 118,000 Canadians that have died during time of conflict or on peace keeping missions overseas. We tend to lose sight of this significant contribution soldiers have made. They made the ultimate sacrifice and that is what today is all about."
The city is inviting the public to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph between noon and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, or after 1 p.m. following the Remembrance Day ceremony.
