Legion ceremony to coincide with Queen’s funeral

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 17, 2022.

The Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 will be holding a memorial service along with a wreath-laying ceremony to honour the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday outside the Yates Theatre starting at 10:45 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the event.

“Monday, the 19th is the funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Many activities are taking place around the Commonwealth in Lethbridge. We are going to have a memorial service starting at 10:45 at the Cenotaph to honour Her Majesty’s long reign and service,” said Glenn Miller, co-chair of the Public Relations Committee for the branch.

The ceremony will follow the format of a Remembrance Day service, but focusing on Her Majesty.

“There will be one speaker which will be the president of the branch. The City of Lethbridge has purchased one wreath which will be laid officially during the program,” said Miller. “It is larger than a normal poppy wreath befitting the head of state. Anyone else after the service who would like to lay something…whether it be poppies or wreaths, we encourage that.”

To veterans the Queen’s passing is significant to them for the oath of allegiance they swear to Her Majesty, which will now change with King Charles III. “The King has taken over her position, and part of that service will include a rendering of God Save the King, which is the same verses, just the word King and Queen are interchanged,” said Miller. “For the next generation or two, there are three Kings potentially in the line for succession, God Save the King will become the new royal anthem.”

The Queen had a large impact on Canadian veterans serving country and crown, including how they displayed the monarchy on their uniforms.

“When the Queen took over, a different crown was depicted on the top of the crest (on cap badges),” said Miller. “She was a great supporter of the military, and the RCMP as well. One of her gifts she had was a horse from the RCMP, which she rode for many years.”

The Queen’s passing will have a big impact on many veterans who served in the military, with Monday’s ceremony giving them a chance to mourn Her Majesty while her funeral proceeds in Westminster Cathedral in London.

“The impact for a lot of veterans, is it’s the only monarch they have served under,” said Miller.