On November 11th, we gather.
We stand at the cenotaph, lay wreaths, wear poppies, and remember those who served and sacrificed.
Remembrance can also ask something of us after the ceremony is over. At F.E. Butler Branch 44 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Chester, this means directly supporting Veterans through one-on-one assistance, programming, and fostering community.
For 13 years, George and his wife Barb had been trying to have his disability properly recognized through Veterans Affairs Canada. However, when François, President of F.E. Butler Branch 44 and a Branch Service Officer, learned about George, he quickly connected with him and had his claim finalized nine months later.
Today, George and Barb have not only sold their home and moved into a house in the Chester area that better supports George’s physical needs, but they are active participants in their new community through involvement with both the Hubbards & Area Lions Club and the Legion’s Poppy Campaign. The support that once reached into their home now ripples back into the community around them.
Another way to reach Veterans has been through Operation VetBuild, an opportunity for Veterans to work on models together, alongside conversation. Around the VetBuild table, Veterans speak about their experiences during active service, along with things that have helped them keep going.
Sometimes the Legion doesn’t need to create the program. It can also just be a private, secure, inclusive, and familiar space for programming developed by others, such as Project Welcome Home Troops’ SKY Resilience breathing course for Veterans experiencing operational stress.
Initiatives like these are heavily supported by local organizations and individuals, who Branch 44 connects with through community meals, opportunities for participation, and its newsletter, The Butler Bugle. Veterans remain at the heart of Branch 44, but they don’t exist separately from the communities around them.
The cenotaph, the poppy, and the silence of November 11th remain fundamental, but perhaps remembrance is also something we carry away from the cenotaph with us.
“Remembrance Day is one day when we publicly honour their service. The other 364 days are when we continue to serve them.”