Veteran upset over new Legion flag policy

By Ken Johnston
Editor

WW II veteran and Rainy River Legion Sgt. at Arms Terry Cooper feels like he and all veterans have been slapped in the face.
Last June at the Canadian Legion’s National Convention, a resolution was passed forbidding the “dipping” of the Canadian Flag during remembrance services. In the past the Canadian Flag, the Union Flag and the Legion banner were dipped during the playing of O’Canada and the Last Post during the Remembrance Day service each Nov. 11th.
Now only the Legion banner will be allowed to be dipped. Dominion Command’s Ritual and Awards Committee noted that the Canadian and British (Union) Flags should remain flying because, “Our soldiers, sailors and airmen died to keep our ensign, the symbol of our Canadian identity in wars past, flying high.”
However, Terry Cooper sees it another way. “These men and women did not die for the Legion, but for the country.” Cooper feels lowering and raising the flags honours the memories of those who gave their lives for us, much the same as flags are lowered to half staff whenever a police officer is killed in Canada.
Cooper said he was flabbergasted by the move at the national convention wondering why no one spoke out against it.
He cited a poem that he says expresses how he feels:
God and the warrior all men adore
in times of danger, and not before
When the danger is past, and all things righted
God is forgotten and the old warrior is slighted.
Cooper says he is going to do all he can to have the resolution repealled as soon as possible.
He also wonders what Canadian Legion colour parties will do when they are marching next to their US counterparts and they lower their flags in memory of all fallen troops. “Will we leave ours up and slight their troops as well as ours?”