‘Remember and commemorate’: Remembrance Day on your own in Barrie

The poppy campaign chairperson Fern Taillefer already has a Remembrance Day guest list.

This year’s ceremony will be a small, private affair, but Taillefer encourages people to mark the day in their own way.

“The actual venue for the parade will be the Legion, upstairs,” Taillefer said. He isn’t inviting Second World War veterans, for safety reasons.

“The silver cross mother, (Beth) McKay and (Fred) McKay will be there.”

It has been a decade since their 24-year-old son Kevin was .

They will lay a wreath during the service, which will be televised on Rogers TV.

And a few wreaths will be left at the Barrie Cenotaph for the public.

“They will be there for two days, so people can remember and commemorate, and leave a poppy if they want.”

Poppies will be on sale later this month, but boxes will be on a table, with sanitized tongs for people to pick their own.

Poppy face masks are also on sale for $10 each at the Legion.

Taillefer knows the poppy revenue will be down from the $120,000 raised last year, but he’s hoping to reach $100,000.