Decoration Day: A tradition older than Remembrance Day
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
By Scott Dunstall
Many Canadians are familiar with Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, but fewer realize that Canada's original day of military remembrance was actually Decoration Day.
On Sunday, June 7, members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 532, veterans, families and community residents gathered at Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg to take part in the annual Decoration Day service. The event was kicked off as The New Hamburg Band played in the Colour Party from Branch 532 as well as the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 822 Tutor Squadron.
The ceremony, which includes the placement of wreaths and the remembrance of veterans laid to rest in local cemeteries, continues a tradition that dates back more than 135 years. On hand to lay wreaths for the Dominion of Canada was Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris Jr.
The Township of Wilmot was represented by Coun. Steve Martin acting on behalf of Mayor Natasha Salonen. Martin delivered a poignant reflection of those in our community who served and now rest eternally in our midst.
"Decoration Day gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect and remember in the business of our daily lives,” Martin said. “It can be easy to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy every day.”
Bill Pearson, incoming president of the New Hamburg Legion, delivered a speech that recognized everything that went into the day.
“Thanks to many volunteers that helped make this a great day and to all the families that have gathered to show their love and respect to their family members that have passed on.”
For more than four decades, Decoration Day served as Canada's unofficial national memorial day. That changed in 1931 when Parliament established Nov. 11 as Remembrance Day. While Remembrance Day became the country's principal day of remembrance, Decoration Day did not disappear. Many Royal Canadian Legion branches continued to observe it, particularly through cemetery services that honour veterans buried within local communities.
The tradition remains especially meaningful because it focuses on individual veterans and their final resting places. Graves are decorated with wreaths, flowers and Canadian flags, providing a personal connection between today's generations and those who served before them. In many communities, Decoration Day is viewed as a complement to Remembrance Day rather than a replacement for it.
In New Hamburg, the annual ceremony organized by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 532 reflects the Legion's broader commitment to preserving the memory of those who served Canada in times of war and peace. The branch has long played a leading role in local remembrance initiatives, including Remembrance Day ceremonies and the community's Memorial Banner Program, which honours veterans from Wilmot Township and beyond.
Jane Eichler, who has been very active in the Legion, said her reason for attending the service was her father.
“I attend Decoration Day in remembrance of my father. He was married on a Wednesday and left for the Navy on the Friday. He came back in ‘45 and I was born in ‘47. So, I always come for him.”
Gail McMullen, longtime legion member and, until recently, food committee chair, also remembered her dad when asked what Decoration Day meant to her.
“It’s a personal day for me. My father lost an arm in the Second World War, and it is important for me to attend this service and the one in November so as to honour his sacrifice that he had to endure for the rest of his life.”
As the ranks of veterans from the Second World War and Korea continue to diminish, traditions such as Decoration Day take on even greater significance. They serve as reminders that remembrance is not confined to a single day in November, but is an ongoing responsibility shared by the community.
The quiet ceremony held at Riverside Cemetery this past weekend connected New Hamburg residents with a tradition that predates Confederation's 50th anniversary, predates both world wars and even predates the Royal Canadian Legion itself. More than a century after Canadians first gathered to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, the spirit of Decoration Day continues to endure.
It is a simple act of remembrance, but one that ensures those who served are never forgotten.
Decoration Day masy have roots back to the war of 1812 and the formation of the Royal Canadain Artillery as the 4th gun battery of the British field artillery. AS A gunner I have for years respected the tradiotion that Decoration Day is older than commonly known.
I was raised on Miliary bases and we always remember Decoration Day and Rembrance day as seperate holidays.
2lt Rodney T SMith Birtle Manitoba