Due to pandemic restrictions, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in Moncton’s Sunny Brae neighbourhood was much smaller and shorter than past years.
A veterans parade was not permitted and Canadian Armed Forces members were not allowed to march.
Besides members of Sunny Brae Legion Branch 54, about 100 people gathered around the cenotaph respecting physical distancing guidelines and wearing masks.
Many drivers also pulled over to the side of the street to listen to the service from their vehicles.
A much smaller Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sunny Brae cenotaph. No veterans parade. About 100 people were physically distanced during the short service. #LestWeForget #RemembranceDay2020 #Moncton #SunnyBrae #NewBrunswick pic.twitter.com/Vbh87pF0T6
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) November 11, 2020
The crosses and wreaths had already been placed prior to the ceremony and the names of veterans and their families were read aloud.
It was an unusually warm day for mid-November under a beautiful blue sky and calm winds.
Some veterans noted how it was the warmest Remembrance Day they could ever recall.
Also in Moncton, hundreds gathered at Victoria Park, while physically distancing.
A few wreaths were laid, proceeded by The Last Post and two minutes of silence as Canadians paused to remember the fallen.
Instead of a 21 gun salute, it is tradition at Victoria Park to release 21 doves.
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At the Moncton Coliseum, Moncton Legion Branch 6 invited 100 dignitaries and veterans for a ceremony.
Traditionally, thousand attend that ceremony, but due to the pandemic, they were unable to hold a remembrance of that size.
Wreaths were already laid, but were acknowledged, and there were no cadets or children.
Riverview and Dieppe also held small virtual ceremonies that were shown live via social media.
