Orillia-area veteran wanted to ‘pay tribute to my buddies who are still over there’

Orillia’s Royal Canadian Legion is not about to let us forget, even in the time of COVID-19.

With mass gatherings banned during the ongoing global pandemic, the local branch held a small ceremony at Veterans’ Memorial Park on Oct. 22 to mark the sacrifices of those who fought in Canada’s name.

The event, which saw about 15 Legion members participate while a handful of spectators looked on from the sidelines, will be broadcast on Rogers TV on Nov. 11, officials said.

Among those taking part in the ceremony was Harold Rowden, a Second World War veteran who participated in D-Day, the allied invasion of Normandy, France.

“I just want to pay tribute to my buddies who are still over there,” the 96-year old told Simcoe.com moments before the service began.

Orillia’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony is traditionally held at the Cenotaph outside Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, where hundreds of residents gathered shoulder to shoulder to honour veterans.

Legion president Bob Thomas said the organization contemplated holding the service at the Cenotaph this year with distancing measures and limited attendance.

“But if 50 people showed up to stand on the sidelines, that would put us over the limit, and we could have been subject to a large fine,” Thomas said.

The Legion instead moved the ceremony to the park adjacent to its waterfront building, where participants wearing masks gathered under a grey sky and a light drizzle.

“It’s different, but there’s not much we can do about it,” Thomas said prior to the service. “I’m sad that we are not holding it at the Cenotaph at the hospital, but at least we are going to do it.”

Veteran and Legion member Jack Hird, who served in Egypt and Kenya, was glad the Legion took steps to ensure Remembrance Day didn’t pass unmarked.

“We wouldn’t be here (if not) for those who in the First World War died and the Second World War died,” Hird said. “And even after that, a lot of people did service in other countries.”

The Orillia Public Library plans to recognize Remembrance Day virtually by posting videos on its website highlighting local people who served in both World Wars.