Open letter to Richmond Remembrance Day organizers:
I feel terrible saying this, but yesterday was the first Remembrance Day I have spent in Richmond.
Even though I have lived here for the greater part of 16 years, my family has tended to frequent smaller town services in the past.
I think that next year, we will go back to the smaller venues to remember.
I was utterly shocked at people’s behaviour; sitting in the veterans’ seating area — this level of inconsideration by people was quite shocking.
Also, most of the people I saw there were holding up ipads and cellphones filming the service and not participating in the occasion. They made it more of a show than a moment to reflect.
With regards to the group dressed in tuxedos; I am not a religious man at all, however, what I did find was that particular group turned the cenotaph into a despicable act of disrespect.
Laughing and joking and dominating the cenotaph for their own satisfaction was deplorable.
They made a mockery of everything that had gone before.
Every year, my son and I craft our own wreath that we lay together, but this year, for the first time since we began the tradition, I felt as if I had laid the wreath in the middle of a circus.
The job of organzing the event is certainly not one I would want.
Congratulations on your service, and I appreciate you for doing it. Next year, however, we will return to a smaller venue where people who are NOT part of some “community group” can actually get their moment of remembrance amongst others who respect the day.
Thanks again, and if you could give me the name of the “community organization” wearing the tuxedos I would certainly be writing to them with observations.
If you do not, I understand your position.
Jason Medcraft
Richmond
