ST. PAUL - While there won't be any organized gathering for Remembrance Day in St. Paul this year, St. Paul Legion president Jim Blair encourages people to take time on Nov. 11, to acknowledge and remember the sacrifices made.
"We ask everyone to stay home . . . and think about your freedoms," says Blair.
The Legion members will be placing a wreath at the cenotaph, located along 53rd Street, near the St. Paul Rec. Centre on Wednesday. People are free to stop by the cenotaph after 11 a.m. to pay their respects and lay a poppy, if they choose.
The Remembrance Day ceremony typically hosted by the Legion draws in hundreds of people each year, but due to precautions being taken around the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans have been cancelled for 2020.
Blair encourages people to take the time to consider the hardships and sacrifices made by their ancestors during the world wars. He points to the shortage of products that were often noted, such as rubber for tires.
While Canadians experiences shortages in some products this spring due to the global pandemic, the shortages experienced during the war years reached deep into Canadians' every day lives.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, home life could be challenging during the war years.
“Rationing” was in effect during both the First and Second World Wars in Canada, making it hard to obtain every day items such as sugar, butter, eggs and other scarce food items that were needed to help feed men fighting overseas.
"Goods such as rubber, gas, metal and nylon were also difficult to come by because they were needed for the war effort. Women did their part by donating old cookware and other household items to recycling scrap metal drives and encouraging others to 'Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without.' This spirit could even be seen in advertisements," according to Veterans Affairs Canada.
"Everything went to the war efforts," said Blair.
There was also efforts to encourage city women to volunteer to help harvest crops. There were 'canning clubs' to keep up with the high demand for preserved foods, and recipes often had to be adapted to make up for wartime shortages, resulting in special cookbooks being put together to help people cope.
"The average homemaker, struggling to prepare meals within the restrictions of food rationing, found these books to be a great resource," according to Veterans Affairs.
Blair encourages younger people to reach out to their older relatives and ask questions about what it was like during the war.
"If your grandparents are around, ask them about it."
Banner project
This year, the St. Paul Legion was able to add nine more banners to its downtown banner project, recognizing veterans and those still serving.
According to Legion member Ken Brodziak, there are now 54 banners that hang from the lamp posts along main street.
Brodziak also encourages locals to tune in to Remembrance Day ceremonies by watching them online or on television.
