Smaller Memorial Day ceremony for CBS this year

By Craig Westcott

There will be no parade this time, but the service in memory of Newfoundland’s fallen in the First World War and the sacrifices of veterans in later wars will go ahead at the cenotaph in Conception Bay South on Monday, July 1.

The annual Memorial Day parade, service and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph is organized by Branch 50 of the Royal Canadian Legion every year, but this year, in honour of the internment ceremony for Newfoundland and Labrador’s Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial on Duckworth Street, the Kelligrews branch, along with Legion branches throughout the province, will be in attendance at that ceremony.

The Unknown Soldier’s remains were repatriated from a war graveyard in France earlier this summer for internment in St. John’s to mark the 100th anniversary of the National War Memorial’s installation.

“This year is extra special because of the return of the remains of the Unknown Soldier,” said Mayor Darrin Bent. “I was present at the airport last month when the Unknown Soldier was returned. It was a very emotional event, and I believe very important in our story of remembrance of those who fought for our freedoms today. But the Town this year will hold a ceremony at 10:45 on July 1 here at the Monument of Honour for anyone who is not going down to the National War Memorial, and I know it will be busy down there. But for anyone who would like to show their respects, the Town will have people here and we’ll hold a minute of silence and a wreath laying at the Monument of Honour as we always do. And we do that just ahead, of course, of our Canada day celebrations here in the town.”
The Town’s Canada Day celebrations will take place at Sgt. Ned Nugent Park in Kelligrews starting at 1 p.m.

Anyone interested in laying a wreath at the CBS cenotaph should contact Branch 50 at 834-2331.