Image: Brian Acker, used with permission / Chilliwack residents attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at All Sappers Park in Chilliwack on November 11, 2024, in this picture taken by Brian Acker. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 295 in Chilliwack is apologizing for comments made by a veteran at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Chilliwack that have been deemed inappropriate and political in nature.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Remembrance Day

Chilliwack Royal Canadian Legion apologizes for Remembrance Day remarks made by guest speaker

Nov 21, 2024 | 9:26 AM

CHILLIWACK — The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 295 in Chilliwack is apologizing for comments made by a guest speaker at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Chilliwack that were deemed inappropriate and political in nature.

According to a Facebook post Thursday morning (Nov. 21), the Royal Canadian Legion Chilliwack branch says a guest speaker made inappropriate comments at the Remembrance Day ceremony at All Sappers Memorial Park at Vedder Crossing. The Legion states that it facilitates the Remembrance Day ceremony, but does not tell guest speakers what they should say.

According to a Facebook post dated November 11 from Michael Croft, who bears no affiliation to the Legion but attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at Vedder Crossing, a military speaker at the Remembrance Day event “took it upon himself to politicize it in his speech about our failure to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the state of our military. This is NOT the day for that!!!! It is a day to remember sacrifices made by so many. If you want things to change then do it on any other day.”

The Legion said the speaker’s comments went against the solemnity suitable for Remembrance Day.

“The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #295 Chilliwack/Vedder sincerely apologizes for any offence these statements have caused,” it said. “The Legion expects speakers are respectful and solemn to properly honour the day and all of those who serve and have served. Unfortunately, on this day, to our great dismay a presenter did not follow our guidelines. We spoke with him/her afterwards to explain what was inappropriate, and we will be sure to reiterate our expectations with all speakers in future years.”

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The Royal Canadian Legion says it was founded by veterans for veterans with the mission of helping those who serve, including military and RCMP members and their families, to acknowledge and promote Remembrance, and to serve communities and Canada.

“We hope our community will continue to focus on remembering those who have fallen, and are aware of work the Legion does to support all who served Canada regardless of when and where,” the Legion concluded. “For more information on how you can help and support veterans in Canada please visit legion.ca.”

Not everyone took the side of the Legion’s stance on Facebook Thursday morning. Donna Guay, a Chilliwack resident, said, “No apology needed. They said what needed to be said. What a lot of us were thinking. We have a RIGHT to free speech in this country. If people are offended that’s on them!”