Remembrance Day – 2020 – Cobourg News Blog

No surprise, there will be no crowds at the Cenotaph this year on November 11 but instead there will be an online ceremony and other things happening. A Poppy campaign has already started – see details below. On November 11 there will be a Virtual Wreath Laying and Two Minutes of Silence. Also planned are Interviews with Veterans and a Virtual Walking Tour. The activities are being organized by Cobourg’s Community Services Division in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133 and were announced by the Town on 28 October. The Poppy campaign is already under way: boxes are available at participating businesses, are protected behind plexiglass and were available starting October 30. Also available for purchase this year are poppy masks, mittens, toques and scarves. To make a donation to the Poppy Fund or to purchase these additional items contact Jennifer Robison by phone at 905-375-5451 or by email at [email protected].

In previous years, there has been a march down King Street, a large gathering at the Cenotaph and a moving ceremony. The photo at right is from 2018 and the Links below include a video from 2015. Given the circumstances, the Town and Legion have put together good alternatives.

Virtual Wreath Laying
To participate, take a photo of your creation and send it along with a message of remembrance to Jackie Chapman-Davis, Community Events Coordinator at [email protected]. All wreaths will be laid prior to the Legion’s Remembrance Day Ceremony and names of individuals and families will be announced during the service.

Submissions will be shared on the Experience Cobourg web site and the Cobourg Legion Branch 133 facebook page on November 11, 2020.

Watch the Cobourg Remembrance Day Ceremony Online
The Cobourg Remembrance Day Ceremony will be conducted at the Victoria Park Cenotaph on November 11, 2020 beginning at 10:30 a.m. and live-streamed through the Town of Cobourg’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/towncobourg. This event is closed to the public.

Observe Two Minutes of Silence
On November 11, 2020 at 11 a.m. join millions of Canadians in observing two minutes of silence to pay tribute to those who served and are currently serving.

WWI & WWII Virtual Historical Walking Tour
To share Cobourg’s personal history and unique contributions made to both world wars, the Community Services Division has revised the Armistice18 Poppy Trail Walking tours to include World War II historical information. Working with author and historian Hugh Brewster, who was vital to the Armistice18 project, the Town will be developing a video tour that can be found on ExperienceCobourg.ca and shared on the Town of Cobourg’s social media pages (Facebook page) This tour will be available in time for Remembrance Day and for years to come so that residents and guests can learn about Cobourg’s history from the safety of their home.

Interview with Local Veterans
Working in partnership with the Legion, Branch 133, the Community Services Division will be producing a video to share the story of contribution and sacrifice made by local veterans. The video will be launched on the Town of Cobourg’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/towncobourg prior to the Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11th and will be available on ExperienceCobourg.ca so that these stories can live on for years to come.

The Town’s announcement finishes with:

Although Remembrance Day will be different this year, we encourage all residents to join together virtually on November 11, 2020 to remember, honour and thank all those who served and sacrificed. Lest we forget.