ELORA – Jim Paterson just can’t quite fathom why someone would take the ribbons from the wreaths at the Elora cenotaph, but if it’s meant to be a political protest, it’s action misplaced, he said.
Paterson is chair of the Elora Legion’s poppy campaign.
The Legion collects donations around Remembrance Day and the funds are used to support veterans’ and other programs.
Many individuals and organizations lay wreaths at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day.
Paterson said they are all left there for a few weeks. Then just two are left and the rest are stored and used to replenish the weather-worn wreaths throughout the year.
He said since March, six ribbons have been taken on three separate occasions.
All of the ribbons taken were government issue – from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, Wellington County and the Township of Centre Wellington.
“I’ve had the wind blow away some wreaths but we’ve never had someone remove ribbons before,” Paterson said.
“I find it too coincidental that the six ribbons that have been removed are from the government.
“It feels like someone is making a statement to the government but it is totally off base. This is not a political statement.”
The wreaths are there to honour the war dead, he said.
“The responsible party should realize that these wreaths and ribbons are to honour those who gave the supreme sacrifice and thus are the names etched on the cenotaph,” Paterson wrote in a letter to the editor.
“They were Canadians, from the Province of Ontario, County of Wellington and the previous Township of Pilkington and Village of Elora, now recognized as the Township of Centre Wellington.”
While the cost is not a lot, replacement ribbons can’t be purchased just anywhere and that money comes from poppy donations.
“I hesitate to put (ribbons) out again if someone has a feeling they need to demonstrate against levels of government,” he said.
Paterson said he has seen adult-sized footprints in the snow around the wreaths, “so it’s not a child doing this,” he added.
He said it’s too small of a problem to go to police or to install cameras at the cenotaph. He hopes whoever is doing it will stop.
And if it’s some sort of protest, those responsible should make their objections knows to the appropriate bodies.
The Elora Legion has no sway over government policy, Paterson said.
“Please treat the cenotaph and the honouring wreaths with the respect deserved,” he added.
