Revisiting Remembrance Day

[Dr Strangelove]

Live updates: Canadians across country gather to honour those who fought, died in wars

[Dr Strangelove]

Remembrance day is a warning, not reminiscing about nostalgia.

[Dr Strangelove]

[testerone]

No veterans left, Legion shut down, no Scouts, Guides or Cadets. No parade. just a tiny gathering at the town's cenotaph. Far cry from the hundred or so marching from the Legion downtown to it from a decade ago.
I was going to use last year's poppy off my old coat but I finally saw a poppy box at the Credit Union on Saturday and donated for a new one.
Small towns still remember but less public display.

[Dr Strangelove]

[al_keda]

No veterans left, Legion shut down, no Scouts, Guides or Cadets. No parade. just a tiny gathering at the town's cenotaph. Far cry from the hundred or so marching from the Legion downtown to it from a decade ago.
I was going to use last year's poppy off my old coat but I finally saw a poppy box at the Credit Union on Saturday and donated for a new one.
Small towns still remember but less public display.

I've been a Legion member for 30 years. When I joined, we still had 2 WWI vets, and perhaps a dozen WW2 vets.

Now it's Cypress, Somalia, Gulf War I, Afghanistan. Like, one or two each. People just aren't joining the Legion. At least not enough to replace those we lose.
And look at me. Home by 9 on the 11th. I recall closing up at 2 am on some Remembrance days. But I'm just not young enough to drink myself sober anymore.

[testerone]

Kind of what happened here. No more WW2 or Korea vets. one Afghan vet and 2 serving and not here anymore. The directorship ageing, burning out and going senile.
The last few years it was open, only Rememberance Day were there more than 4 people.
The building is still there, they used it as a homeless shelter one summer and they destroyed the inside.
Total shame.

[al_keda]

There used to be 4 legions in 12 blocks from me, including Branch #1.

Most didn't survive the pandemic. The only branch in bicycle range is in a strip mall.