As November approaches, preparations are being made for the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Mission Legion - the second one to take place since the Covid-19 epidemic began.
Pauline Mann president of the Mission Legion (Branch 57) confirmed that this year’s event will again be toned down.
“The ceremony will be here, there’s nothing up at the Clarke Theatre, that’s been cancelled again,” she explained.
This year’s event will begin at 10:50 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the Cenotaph in front of the Legion (32627 Logan Ave.) and the public is invited to attend.
Mann, who joined the Legion in
1997 and has been president since 2014, said it will be a pared down event with no parade, no pipers and no wreath laying.
“If you purchase a wreath, you can bring it with you to the ceremony and lay it after the ceremony is over.”
While not happy about the smaller ceremony, Mann says the members understand the changes are needed for their safety.
“The only thing different this year (from last) is we’re allowed to have people come into the legion. Last year we were shut down because of Covid and nobody was allowed in. This year we can have up to 50 people inside.”
That’s half of the building’s capacity.
Normally, on Remembrance Day, after the ceremony, the Legion building is packed “wall-to-wall” with people.
Fortunately, there is no limit on outside guests so the public is encouraged to attend.
“Last year there was a good turn out with people standing across the street to watch,” said Mann.
After the ceremony, the Legion will be hosting a beef dip and salad Remembrance Day meal. With only 50 people allowed in the building, Mann said you can order the meal as take out as well.
The cost is $10.
Like many other organizations and businesses, the past two year’s have been a challenge for the Mission Legion. Mann says the branch has been struggling.
“We’re doing alright but we’re still struggling. We don’t have the income that we had but we still have the bills to pay.”
A majority of the revenue for the Legion comes from the bar, meals and memberships.
She said of the branch’s approximately 400 members, about 275 are “paid up” and many don’t stop by anymore.
“Definitely people coming into the branch is lower, People don’t want to take the chance of coming out.”
Restrictions are in place – hand sanitizer, arrows on the floor to guide people, a maximum occupancy of 50 people – but some people don’t trust that it’s safe to come in.
Mann said many members are in the high risk category and some are unable to come to the Legion by themselves and “the people who normally bring them don’t want to come down.”
This has reduced the branch’s revenue by half.
While Bonnie Henry has announced an increase in the number of people allowed at indoor venues. Mann said the Legion is going to keep it at 50 for now.
“Safety first. We aren’t going to change a lot of things right now until things become more stable. The more people get vaccinated the better it will be. This is what it is right now and until we see a dramatic change, this is what its going to be,” she said.
People attending the Legion must show their vaccine passports and ID to enter. A list is created so they don’t have to keep showing it every time they come back.
New members are always welcome says Mann, noting most people join because they are related to someone who served in the armed forces. Once they become a member, they continue to come back for the social aspect.
While she calls the future uncertain, Mann said the Legion will go on.
“We’re doing OK. We aren’t doing swell, but we’re doing OK and we’re not gonna go away. We might be little, but we’re mighty.”