The president of the Legion in Chatham is excited about Remembrance Day services getting back to normal and being open to the public this year, but he's also upset about the downtown Chatham cenotaph being vandalized.
Len Maynard told CK News Today the downtown Chatham cenotaph has been vandalized with paint, adding the municipality has been outstanding and crews are cleaning it up for the service on Friday.
"They poured paint all over the flag stanchions and it's been ongoing and it's just very upsetting. I didn't want the Veterans going up and seeing that. The city's crew jumped all over that," said Maynard.
Maynard said an Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment monument in Tecumseh Park was also vandalized.
Maynard said he expects the usual big crowds again this year after pandemic restrictions kept services small and by invite only the last two November 11ths.
"It's traditional, but this is the first post-COVID one that we've been able to go full bore. This year we have the public coming in and were going up William and down King loud and proud for the public to see and as a Veteran and the president of the branch it's just a joy to have it happen again," he said.
The Chatham Remembrance Day parade will form up outside of the Legion on William Street at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and head to the cenotaph for the public remembrance starting at 11 a.m.
You can find a full list of this year's ceremonies by clicking here.
Maynard is also weighing in on a 10-year strategic plan developed by Veterans Affairs Canada on the future of remembrance in Canada until 2030. The plan includes more education for youth and Maynard agrees that's the way to go, although he said the number of Veterans able to visit schools is dwindling because of the pandemic and Veterans getting older.
"If we can do that, maintain our traditions because you don't want to lose those, then that's the way forward. The way forward is definitely education, education, education. Getting guest speakers out, getting people into the branch to talk to Veterans to understand and when they see a Veteran stop and ask them," Maynard said.
He noted local Veterans are available to visit schools year round to talk with students about Remembrance Day.
The plan by Veterans Affairs is to "evolve" how Canadians recognize and appreciate the Canadians who have served our country, at home and abroad. It aims to invite Canadians to understand and appreciate the contributions and sacrifices made by those in uniform, and to make sure that all Veterans and their family members feel recognized.
The Veterans Affairs consultations done in the summer of 2021 also showed that a significant number of respondents felt that if Remembrance Day was a statutory holiday in all provinces, it would enable more Canadians to take the time off to commemorate. Some survey respondents also expressed a desire to have a month for remembrance, or to have separate holidays for those who have served versus those who gave their lives, similar to what the U.S. does with Memorial Day and Veterans Day.