Remembrance Day is right around the corner, but the commemorative day will look somewhat different due to COVID-19.

Randy Graham, president of the Fergus Royal Canadian Legion Branch 275, says there won’t be a parade this year.

“We’re really discouraging any crowds at the cenotaph service because the roads, which are normally blocked for the parade, will not be, so the traffic will be flowing," Graham says. "Any people that do come out, please social distance and wear a mask, but we do discourage the crowds from gathering."

Graham says all the wreaths that are normally carried by sponsors will be pre-laid at the cenotaph, before the shortened service.

When asked how Graham felt about this year’s changes he says, “It’s somewhat depressing, but […] we’ve been living with this (COVID-19) now for about 6 months.”

“We knew that it was going to invoke some changes, but the fact that we can still do it, remember those that sacrificed for us is very, very important, and you know the resiliency of people to pull their boot straps up and have a good campaign,” he adds.

Graham says he really thinks that people will feel for the Legions this year and what they have been going through, as well as the veterans, and thinks people’s generosity may surprise them during their Poppy Campaign.

If you’ve taken a walk in downtown Fergus, then you may have noticed all the banners remembering those who sacrificed their lives for us in this community.

Graham says this is the first time they’ve done this, and it started in a few smaller communities a few years back.

“[It’s] a way to really personalize the names that appear on the cenotaph in these communities, and we’ve talked about it for a couple of years, and hats off to a couple of our members who took it on this year, and again, the response was overwhelming,” he says.

Graham says they anticipated getting up only 30-40 names, but they are well over 60 and says the problem their going to have is not having enough posts to put the banners on.

“I’ve walked the town and I’ve taken some pictures as well, and it really is a heartfelt thing to see the faces of these veterans in our community, rather than once a year we say their name,” he says.

He adds that it’s a special program and it’s going to catch on across the country.