Plans for a special by-invitation-only ceremony October 30 have been cancelled. The ceremony was intended to mark the start of the Rockland Legion’s Poppy Campaign leading up to Remembrance Day, November 11, and also commemorate the addition of five Clarence-Rockland men who died in service during World War I but whose names were “lost” in history until this year.

The City of Clarence-Rockland and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 554 were going to hold a joint ceremony October 30 at the cenotaph, with attendance limited to a select group of municipal officials, Legion members, and others. The ceremony would be made available for viewing by residents later through social media.

But the city announced that the live ceremony will not take place because of concern over the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the region and the new provincial pandemic control restrictions. Instead the city will tape “an abbreviated version” of the planned ceremony honouring the five additions to the cenotaph memorial list of names and make that video available later through social media.

The five men whose names will become part of the Cenotaph list of the honoured dead are Private Douglas Archibald Beaton, Corporal John Robert Duncan, Lance-Sargent Hervé Joseph Chenier, Private James Wilfred Campbell, and Private Victor Clément.

The Legion Poppy Campaign will begin October 30 and the Rockland Legion Branch has a new item available for residents who wish to honour the memory of past and present veterans. The Legion has double-sided commemorative lawn signs available for purchase at $20 plus HST. Those interested can phone John Mogensen, Rockland Legion Poppy Campaign chairman, at 613-298-8215 or email jonicm73@gmail.com to ask about purchasing a sign.