This story will appear in the January print issue of Anglican Life; article by The Rev’d Canon Jeffrey Petten; photographs by Lorna Clarke and Geraldine Hardy.
Due to COVID-19, The Royal Canadian Legion asked that people not gather in person this year for the annual Act of Remembrance. In the Parish of Rose Blanche, although we do not have a branch of the Legion in our communities, we do have cenotaphs. To be in solidarity with the request from the Legion, the decision was made that this year the Act of Remembrance would take place on Facebook Live, streamed from the rectory. Canon Petten officiated, using the same liturgy that has been used in the parish since 2014.
With the aid of a smart tv, a tablet, and the internet, the only difference between this year and any other year was that we did not gather in person, and no official list of those laying wreaths was read aloud. To replace this, Canon Petten did suggest that if people wanted to place their poppies at the cenotaph they were encourage to do so; or if they felt inclined to, people could paint a rock with a poppy on it. This was well received, and we thank those who did paint rocks and placed them at the cenotaph.
Although we could not gather in person, we remembered our glorious dead with thankful hearts, and offered thanks for their sacrifices and for the sacrifices of those who returned home. We will remember them.
