Remembrance Day

All Sections (youth and Scouters) attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Armories and the cenotaph. We are in full uniform and wear a poppy.

In the past, we met at the Queens Ave. United Church. We sat together and filled the first 4 pews on the right hand side and watched the ceremony from there (it was broadcast from the Armories). The church service started at 10:00, but everyone was to be in the church and seated by 9:30. After the service, we paraded down to City Hall and marshaled between City Hall and the Cenotaph. After the service there, we paraded clockwise around the block and back up to the Church where we dispersed.

In 2015, the service in the Church was eliminated and, by invitation, we joined the service in the Armories. They told us that this was for youth and Scouters only and there was not enough room in the Armories for parents to attend but he public streamed in and the place was packed to the rafters (so get there early). After the service, the Scouters, Rovers, Venturers, Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers assemble on Queens Ave. with Section flags and be ready to march down 8th Ave. and marshal on Royal Ave. for 11:00. The Parade Commander leads the group, followed by someone holding the Canadian Flag, followed by the Section flags (from left to right in ascending order of age). The colour party is followed by the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Venturers. Scouters walk with their Section.

Two Scouts are honored with the task of laying the 12th New Westminster Scouts wreath alongside those of the other dignitaries. They break off from the parade and pick up the wreath from a tent on the front lawn of City Hall. After the ceremony at the cenotaph, we parade counterclockwise around the City Hall block and end in the parking lot behind City Hall. Pickup by parents is around 11:45 by Queen Ave. United Church.

A wreath is typically ordered by the Guild, and paid for by the Group (~$70). It is likely ordered from the Legion on 6th St. We forward the receipt to the Area Commissioner and are reimbursed by the Area.

Often the Coho Area designs commemorative patches for the event. The deadline to order is typically a few days after Remembrance Day. Patrick McCarthy is typically the contact.

Things to remember to do before the event:

• Order a wreath from the Legion.
• Confirm the plan with the City and/or The Royal Westminster Regiment. Contact at the Regiment is Capt. Desaulniers at (604) 666-4373, Richard.Desaulniers@forces.gc.ca
• Pick up the Section flags and the leather flag carrying belts from the locker.
• In the Group Committee meeting, discuss and agree whether we are ordering commemorative patches for the youth and Scouters who attended.
• A COAA is not required, but please ensure you have a “Member Details Report” for your Section.

Things to remember to do on the day of the event:

• Pick up the wreath before the service in the Armouries.
• Section Scouters to assign a flag bearer from each Section.