Legion ceremony pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

By Ry Clarke on September 20, 2022.

Herald photo by RY CLARKE Mayor Blaine Hyggen lays a wreath for Queen Elizabeth II at Mondays Memorial outside the Yates Theatre.

The City of Lethbridge and the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 held a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II at the Cenotaph outside the Yates Memorial Theatre Monday morning to coincide with the Queen’s funeral in Westminster Cathedral in London.

The service involved a ceremonial wreath laying, a moment of silence for Her Majesty, and the singing of God Save the Queen. Crowds gathered at the service to pay their respects, placing a poppy on the Cenotaph afterwards in a sign of farewell. Military branches in the city showed their condolences with attendance, saluting Her Majesty and her work towards the military.

“The ceremony we saw here today marks the funeral of Her Majesty taking place around the Commonwealth and Canada. We wanted to recognize and give thanks to Her honour for Her long reign and service,” said Glenn Miller representing the Last Post Fund Alberta Branch. “If you notice in the crowds, there is also some British flags and citizens that are also part of our community, who have come out to pay their respects.”

Attendees shared some of their reminiscences about the Queen.

“She was my boss for eight years. I come from a military family as well. My dad was in the army. He did 22 years. So I’ve been in the military and surroundings for coming on almost 35 years,” said Jim Standen, former recovery mechanic in Her Majesty’s British Armed Forces, now working with Army Cadets as a civilian volunteer in Lethbridge. “It means a lot.

“Not only did we lose a boss, but we lost a Commander in Chief of numerous regiments. It’s just a sad loss for everybody.”

Thinking about his family’s service, Standen recalled many fond memories his family has had while serving under the Queen.

“I remember when my dad was in the army, and his regiment had to paint the grass green for a parade that she had to come in to. They literally had to paint the grass green because it was brown. That’s the dedication that we, the service industry, have towards the Queen and the monarchy. That’s one of my biggest memories of actually seeing the Queen when I was younger,” said Standen.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen laid the wreath at the ceremony, noting what a special opportunity it was for him and the honour it involves.

“It’s something that definitely won’t happen in my lifetime again. To have someone to reign for seventy years, that’s quite incredible. It’s something I’m sure none of us will ever see [again],” said Hyggen. “Respect is the most important part, we want to make sure that we did pay that respect to the Queen.”

The City had a book of condolences in the front foyer of City Hall for the public to sign, which will now be sent to the province to pass along.

Hyggen notes the book has been filled up by the citizens of Lethbridge paying their respect to the Queen.

“The ability to bring people together and show love and compassion, it’s something that a lot of times we need. We need to look up to, and realize that there is good in all. That’s something that I really respect the Queen for. She looked for the best,” said Hyggen.