LEGION POPPY SERVICES & CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE #15

Legion Poppy Service

The Royal Canadian Legion offers a special Legion Poppy Service to honour veterans (*) who have passed away.  Our officiants will normally attend family services at any location in Chilliwack and surrounding area to conduct the service prior to the family celebration of life. Families may also hold their celebrations in the branch at 5661 Vedder Road. Please email the branch at rclbr295@shaw.ca or telephone 604-858-3600 to begin arrangements. The Chilliwack-Vedder Branch 295 Sergeant-at-Arms will normally request a meeting with the family to discuss details.

(*) The Royal Canadian Legion General By-laws Article 101 (d) definition of a "veteran" is:

"A Veteran is any person who is serving or who has honourably served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies, or as a regular member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or as a Peace Officer in a special duty area or on a special duty operation, or whohas served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime."

Legion Poppy Service Protocols

The Legion Poppy Service is conducted immediately before the family portion of the service. At the conclusion of the Poppy Service, Legion representatives turn the service over to the family officiant and march off.  We have no role in the family portion of the service.

The Legion will appoint a Master of Ceremony to conduct a tribute to our lost comrade and perform the Act of Remembrance. The Sergeant-at-Arms or another legion representative will normally accompany the MC and a legion Chaplain may also be present.

• The MC will conduct the tribute, perform the Act of Remembrance, and direct the poppy laying ceremony.

• The Sergeant-at-Arms, or another legion representative will escort family members to lay poppies on a small cushion.

• The MC concludes the service by presenting the poppy cushion to the family.

Optional

The legion will provide a small colour party if we have sufficient volunteers. If we are able, we will also provide a Sound Engineer to play legion approved ceremonial music during the poppy service. 

Conclusion

Please note that our Poppy Service tribute is separate and distinct from any portion of the family service and is conducted in accordance with Royal Canadian Legion protocols.

Booking a Legion Poppy Service

• Preliminary Steps:

  • A family representative must contact the branch office to book the hall and inform us that a Poppy Service for a veteran is being requested.

  • Family represenatives must provide a contact name, telephone number, and email address (if available)

  • Bookings are subject to hall availability and the availability of our volunteers.

• Once informed of the details, the Sergeant-at-Arms will contact the family representative to discuss the next steps.

  • • • There is no charge for hall rental and sandwich trays for veteran poppy services

Maple Leaf Services

• Preliminary Steps:

  • A family representative must contact the branch office to book the hall and inform us that a Maple Leaf Service for a member of Branch 295 is being requested.

  • Family represenatives must provide a contact name, telephone number, and email address (if available)

  • Bookings are subject to hall availability and the availability of our volunteers.

• Once informed of the details, the Sergeant-at-Arms will contact the family representative to discuss the next steps.

• Maple Leaf Services may be held for members of the branch or the Ladies Auxiliary who are not veterans. The protocols are similar except that maple leafs replace poppies and there is no legion approved music.

• • • There is  no hall rental charge for  Maple Leaf  services held for members of Branch 295.

    • Food  charges are determined by the caterer (branch or Ladies Auxiliary)
      
      

Private Celebrations of Life

• The legion has no formal participation in  private services and provides support only in relation to the hall rental and food services. 

  • • Food  charges are determined by the caterer (branch or Ladies Auxiliary) 

Branch Services

Location: Ceremonies are conducted in the "Merritt Room" with normal seating for 85 people. 

Scheduling: Ceremonies must be scheduled around previously booked events. It is usually best to book for 12 pm or 1 pm any day other than Fridays or Sundays.

Hall Rental and Food Service: Depends on the type of service. See above for Poppy Service, Maple Leaf Service, and Private Service.

Audio-Visual Support: Families are welcome to use our big screen TV for presentations. Families wishing to play special music during the celebration of life can be provided with a Bluetooth speaker if they do not bring their own. Families are also welcome to use the branch WiFi to live stream the ceremony. Families are encouraged to book an appointment with a branch audio-visual services representative several days prior to the service to test their laptop or USB device with our big screen TV as we may not have a knowledgeable person present at the service.