MOOSE JAW — Branch 59 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Moose Jaw is inviting the public to take part in this year’s Decoration Day ceremony, a quiet but powerful tradition dedicated to remembering the service and sacrifice of Canada’s veterans.
Set for Sunday, June 8, the event will return to Rosedale Cemetery for the annual placement of Canadian flags on the graves of local veterans, followed by a service of remembrance at the Rosedale Cemetery Cenotaph.
The public is welcome to attend, and volunteers are encouraged to help place flags starting at 9 a.m. The official ceremony will follow at 11 a.m., led by members of the Legion and supported by contingents from the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS), 15 Wing Moose Jaw, and the Saskatchewan Dragoons.
Royal Canadian Legion branches across the country hold Decoration Day on or near the first Sunday in June to remember those who fought in battles that occurred before the First World War, when Canada was finding its footing as a nation during its earliest days.
The first Decoration Day took place in June 1890 when veterans of the Fenian Raids more than 20 years earlier placed decorations at the Canadian Volunteers Monument in Toronto. The following year, the public took notice, with 30,000 people taking part in ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the Raids.
Robert (Bob) Travale, legion president, said the organization is “just carrying on the tradition” of holding Decoration Day, which veterans started more than a century ago. While Remembrance Day is paramount, this event is also great since it’s a memorial service to remember veterans and serving personnel.
“It’s very important to commemorate our veterans because it’s Canada, and they all fought for Canada … and it’s a very (special) time to remember the veterans that were killed and the ones who served,” he said earlier.
In the days leading up to the main event, volunteers will also be decorating veterans’ graves at Sunset Cemetery on Saturday, June 7, beginning at 9 a.m. There is no formal service scheduled at that location.
On Sunday morning, members of ANAVETS will decorate graves at the Moose Jaw Cemetery on Ninth Avenue East, also starting at 9 a.m., again without a service component.
Following the formal ceremony at Rosedale, everyone is invited to gather at the Legion Lounge, located at 693 Fairford Street West, for a community barbecue starting at noon. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and salads will be available for $5, while cadets and children under 12 can eat for free.
Salad donations are welcome, and anyone willing to help with lunch is asked to call the Legion at 306-692-5453. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Legion.
Attendees are reminded that the main entrance to the Legion Lounge, now located at 693 Fairford Street West, is around the corner in the adjacent parking lot along Seventh Avenue Northwest.
To learn more, visit “ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION – Branch 59 Moose Jaw” on Facebook, call 306-692-5453, or email [email protected].
The Rosedale Cemetery is located at 1804 Caribou Street West.
