Bagpipes played in honour of 75th anniversary of VE Day

While it wasn’t the original plan to honour veterans on VE Day, the Royal Canadian Legion found a way to do it despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the day when the Allied Forces declared victory in Europe during the Second World War.

The original plan included a parade and a flypast but due to the ongoing pandemic, those had to be scrapped.

In order to honour the pipers who played during the war, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 001 president Ron Hitchock still planned on playing “Battle’s O’er” at 3 p.m. local time, which is being done by pipers across the world.

“I thought I was just going to be playing on my deck,” Hitchcock said on Friday.

He called up the pipe bands in Regina and requested one piper from each to join him outside the legion branch building in downtown Regina.

“We got that so we came together and played the tune that everyone around the world is playing.”

Hitchcock said the pipers played a major role in the war, helping motivate allied troops while striking fear into the hearts of the enemies.

Hitchcock said Canada’s population during the Second World War was around 11 million and 1.1 million of those were Canadian soldiers sent to fight in the war.

“Basically one person from every neighbourhood went away to make us safe and now they want us to stay home to keep us safe.”

While they had to change their plans, Hitchcock said it wasn’t disheartening to have to cancel the major event.

“Better to be safe than sorry. It’s better to be alive and it’s better to stay home and look after yourself than run the risk of catching something or giving someone something,” Hitchcock said.

As Saskatchewan and the rest of the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regina Legion branch has closed down it’s restaurant, bar and museum.

But there are still two people taking calls to help veterans in Regina.

“We’ve got homeless veterans in the city and so we’re looking after those and others who have concerns that are veterans or their families. We’re here for them.”

Hitchcock said veterans shouldn’t just be honoured in November and during Remembrance Day.

“Today’s veterans are young and they need our help. We send them to war – boys and girls and they come back men and women – and some of them are broken. It’s our obligation as citizens of this country to encourage the government to do the right thing and look after them.”