Sunday June 3, Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 8 in Virden hosted the Decoration Day ceremonies for Zone 26 with Branch President Comrade Shae Apland conducting the service.
Following the singing of O Canada and prayers, wreathes were laid at the cenotaph in Victoria Park by Comrade Joan Wright, District 2 Commander; Comrade John Stowe, Zone 26 Commander; members of the branches and Ladies Auxiliaries in Zone 26; veterans and wives of veterans. The program concluded with The Last Post, a minute of silence, Reveille and God Save the Queen.
Members in attendance enjoyed a light lunch at the Virden Legion Club Room following the service, where they took the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Comrade Jack Houston who was celebrating his 95 years young. Comrade Houston received the French Legion of Honour medal in 2016.
About Decoration Day
Decoration Day is a Canadian tradition to mark the sacrifice of Canadian militia members killed at the Battle of Ridgeway, June 2 (near the village of Ridgeway and the town of Fort Erie, Ont.), while protecting the country during the Fenian raids between 1866 and 1871.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the Fenians were members of a mid-19th century movement to secure Ireland’s independence from Britain. They were a secretive and outlawed organization in the British Empire.
Based in the United States, the Fenians’ attack on Canada was intended to send a message to Great Britain in the interest of Irish independence.
The Battle of Ridgeway was fought on the morning of June 2, 1866. Nine men were killed, another dozen soldiers were wounded or became ill from the battle.
Veterans felt the government overlooked the contributions of those who died protecting the country. On June 2, 1890 surviving veterans of the conflicts protested by laying flowers and wreathes at the Canadian Volunteers Monument near Queen’s Park in Toronto.
The popularity of this day declined after the establishment of Remembrance Day but ceremonies are held in various locations in Canada.
