Photo: The Canadian Press
A man holds a combination of American and Canadian flags at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial before a demonstration march, part of a convoy-style protest that participants are calling “Rolling Thunder,” in Ottawa, Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The sacrifices of Canadians who fought and died for democracy and freedom during the Korean War were honored in a small ceremony last week at the National War Memorial.
Ceremonial Square, located a stone’s throw from Parliament Hill and featuring the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, was built for such commemorative acts.
This year, however, Canadians saw far different depictions of the memorial, including acts of vandalism and as a rallying point for those opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.
This has sparked concern that a sacred site dedicated to Canada’s war dead is being used for political purposes and debate over what steps can be taken to better protect it.
Last weekend, someone was seen hanging Canadian and American flags over the tomb as part of a ceremony streamed live online. Photos and videos were widely shared on social media before accounts that appeared to be linked to Freedom Convoy supporters were shut down.
This sparked protests, including from Defense Minister Anita Anand, who called it a “desecration”.
It also prompted calls for more security, including from the Royal Canadian Legion, which first made such a request after the memorial was perceived as being disrespected, including through public urination, near the start of the three-week protest that took over downtown Ottawa this winter.
On the eve of Canada Day, army reservist James Topp addressed hundreds of people gathered at the cenotaph and compared himself and others fighting vaccine mandates to the unidentified Canadian soldier killed in World War I whose remains were buried in the tomb.
Court-martialed for publicly criticizing federal vaccine requirements while in uniform, Topp arrived at the tomb after a four-month march from Vancouver during which he became a celebrity for many anti-vaccine and liberals.
“This is us. We are the Unknown Soldier,” Topp told the crowd, which included a number of people wearing military hats and medals to show their veteran status.
“What did we have to do with this man? … We had courage.”
A group called Veterans 4 Freedom, which supported Topp’s march and includes members with ties to the Freedom Convoy, also organized a rally at the memorial during the Rolling Thunder event in April, where members gave speeches against vaccines and pandemic restrictions.
“Canadians must sacrifice to preserve their freedom,” one speaker told the crowd. “They went to France. They fought in the South Pacific, the Battle of Britain. They sacrifice their lives. But nowadays we have to sacrifice in a different way.
Veterans 4 Freedom declined to comment. Topp referred to his June 30 speech.
David Hoffman is an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick and co-director of the government-funded Network for the Study of Hateful Behavior and Right-Wing Extremism in the Canadian Armed Forces.
He said political movements need symbols to succeed and that perhaps it should come as no surprise that some groups in Canada are now trying to convert the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior to such purposes.
“It’s a powerful symbol,” Hoffman said. “You have the Unknown Soldier, the ultimate martyr, someone who can’t even be remembered by name. And you have these people… trying to equate what they’re doing with a sense of martyrdom.
Retired Brigadier General Duane Daly, who was instrumental as head of the Royal Canadian Legion in establishing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier more than 20 years ago, disagrees with those who want to use the site “as a center for political dissent.”
“It’s a tomb,” he said. “If they want to make such a statement, go to parliament. That’s what it’s for, not the tomb.
Others suggest that some of those who use the memorial to increase grievances against the government actually represent the opposite of the selflessness to which the sites are dedicated.
“The unknown soldier died for his country. He died in a selfless act,” said Yuri Cormier, executive director of the Defense Association Conference think tank Institute.
“When you honk and holler about an idea of personal liberties that excludes duty to his or her nation, obedience to the law, and … respect for the principle that one’s freedom ends where it infringes on the liberties of others, that is putting oneself before the nation. “
In that context, some like Legion and Cormier, who noted that the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Arlington, Virginia, is guarded around the clock by armed military members, have called for greater security at the memorial.
“No one is allowed to usurp or appropriate the sacred ground of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for any stunt or campaign,” Cormier said. “This sacred place is not for the taking.”
Public Services and Supply Canada says the site is monitored 24/7, but has not commented on calls for more security. While the Canadian Armed Forces have a ceremonial guard at the memorial for tourists, Ottawa police are responsible for security at the site.
The murder of Capt. Islamic State sympathizer Nathan Cirillo in October 2014 called for a review of security at the memorial and the possible deployment of military police. But their job is to protect ceremonial guards while they are on duty.
Exactly what type of security measures should be adopted now is unclear.
Most experts agree that authorities should not limit or restrict public access to the memorial, in part because the vast majority of visitors to the site are respectful? – but also because such a move could play into the hands of some groups.
“In some ways it’s more dangerous because it feeds a victim mentality, that we’re being silenced, that we’re being oppressed,” said Barbara Perry, director of the Center on Hate, Bias and Extremism at the Ontario University of Technology.
Officials erected fences around the memorial at the start of the Freedom Convoy after a woman stood at the grave. But they were later brought down by protesters. Many identified themselves as veterans and said they were reclaiming their place, a message repeated as a reason for gathering at the cenotaph during the “Rolling Thunder” event this spring.
Retired Lt. Gen. Mike Day also opposed the idea of American-style restrictions on the memorial, such as ropes and fences that prevent the public from approaching.
“All national monuments should be accessible. I accept that it comes at a price,” Day said.
“But I think the cost of fencing them off and not making them accessible is greater. Therefore, I accept that there will be people who will take advantage of it.
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