The City of Windsor's Remembrance Day ceremony is going to look a little different this year with COVID-19 restrictions in place for outdoor gatherings.
Only representatives from the Windsor Veterans Memorial Service, pre-registered wreath bearers, and government officials are being asked to attend Windsor cenotaph this year. The ceremony will be broadcast live on YourTV and on the City of Windsor's Facebook page. Spectators are asked not to attend.
"We will still have a section set aside for veterans that show up but we have to do our best to keep them safe because they are the vulnerable part of people attending," said Paul Lauzon, president, Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee. "We don't want anybody getting sick during our ceremony that's for sure."
Lauzon said in addition to watching the ceremony at home there are other ways people can get out and honour veterans.
"Visit one of the local cemeteries where we have our veterans section. We put flags out every year so that it's easily identified and people could stop by and pay tribute there," said Lauzon.
The City of Windsor has also organized a number of other ways to help honour all veterans and their sacrifices, especially during the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Mayor Drew Dilkens is asking local veterans and their families to record videos reflecting on their service, their stories, their comrades, and Remembrance Day and submit them to the city. The videos will be shared across social media in the days leading up to November 11, 2020. Videos can be recorded by phone, in the horizontal format and submitted to the mayor's office by email at mayoro@citywindsor.ca.
The Windsor Classic Chorale will also be broadcasting a virtual concert on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. to honour Canadian veterans.