Last Post Fund Remembers: Commemoration in a time of COVID-19
The Last Post Fund wishes to thank the thousands of viewers who joined us online for the annual commemoration ceremony that took place last Sunday, June 7, 2020. Due to the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's ceremony was largely conducted virtually, a historic first for our organization. As of this writing, over 22,000 people at home and abroad have viewed our broadcast.
Members of the Last Post Fund Québec Branch conducted a brief ceremony at the Currie Circle, National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, Québec in honour of the military men and women from Canadian and Allied forces, who rest there in eternity. Following Major (Retired) Gratton's opening remarks, LPF Quebec Branch President LCol (Retired) Michel Crowe gave a brief speech and padre L'Heureux then blessed the proceedings. A bugler was present to sound the Last Post. Members of the 3rd Montreal Field Battery of Artillery (3BAM) fired a cannon shot, and after observing two minutes of silence, a second cannon shot was fired before the sounding of the Reveille. To conclude the brief ceremony, LCol (Retired) Michel Crowe laid a wreath in commemoration and in honour of the dead.
Prior to the ceremony at the National Field of Honour, the Executive Director of the Last Post Fund visited the Sailor's memorial at the Old Port of Montréal where a memorial wreath was laid. Unfortunately, the Mount-Royal Cemetery, where a small ceremony is normally conducted, was still closed to the public.
If you would like to observe the National Field of Honour ceremony, the live-captured video is still available on the Last Post Fund Facebook page.
Despite the sanitary restrictions in place, the Last Post Fund is pleased that we were able to uphold our long history and sacred duty of honouring Veterans.
