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While many communities around the world observed the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, in the area local to Neepawa, the Royal Canadian Legion in Gladstone was the only location that held a formal memorial service.

The memorial began with a colour guard-led march from the Legion to the local cenotaph where the rest of the service was scheduled to take place. Attendees included local citizens and representatives from the RCMP, but the largest contingent represented the Legion itself, whose membership includes Canadian veterans but also ex-pats from elsewhere in the Commonwealth who now call Gladstone their home.

Following the national anthem and prayers, a wreath was placed on the cenotaph to honour the late queen. Speakers then took the podium to eulogise the queen and share personal memories of the royal family, such as the early days of her reign when a person could see her out walking near her home without the kind of security that is seen today. One gentleman remembers that the very first program he ever saw on television was the queen’s coronation.

The monarch’s consent  is required for any organisation to use the prefix “Royal”, and it was noted that it was in 1958 that the Royal Canadian Legion received that assent. This was a poignant reminder of the connection between the countries in terms of their militaries, and also the importance of the queen to many residents of the area. Many at the ceremony praised the queen not just for her reign but specifically for her military service.

The ceremony concluded with all attendees invited to lay poppies at the base of the cenotaph next to the wreath.