Tributes
The Royal Canadian Legion conducts a Tribute service for departed Veterans and Legion members.  The Legion Tribute service is the ritual that is used to pay homage, to grieve, to remember, and to say goodbye to a departed Veteran and/or Comrade.
 
When funeral preparations are underway, the funeral director will ask the family of the deceased whether s/he was a Veteran or a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.  The local Legion will accept all requests for a Tribute service, which is usually conducted at the funeral home, just prior to a visitation period.  Veterans need not be Legion members to receive this special honour.
 
While the services for a Veteran and a Comrade (who is not a Veteran) are similar, they are not identical.  The service for a Veteran is symbolized by a poppy, and usually (depending on local circumstances) includes The Last Post, The Silence, The Rouse (Revellie), and The Act of Remembrance.  The service for a Legion member, who is not a Veteran, is symbolized by a red maple leaf, and includes The Silence.
 
The Charlottetown Legion tries to post a notice in the branch, as well as on the splash page of this website, of scheduled Tributes which are the responsibility of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #1 Charlottetown.  The information for a Tribute service is usually included in the notice of death in The Guardian newspaper, and online.
 
There is often hesitation on the part of some members in deciding whether to attend and to join in the Tribute service.
  • HESITATION:  it may be felt that attending would be an intrusion, if not acquainted with either the deceased or the family.
  • FACT: the family is very happy to see the show of support and respect from everyone.
  • HESITATION:  it may be felt that it would be inappropriate to attend if Legion dress is not worn.
  • FACT:  while Legion dress is preferred, tie & jacket (or equivalent lady's wear) are perfectly acceptable.
  • HESITATION:  there may be reluctance to attend a Tribute service being conducted by another Legion branch.
  • FACT:  there are no boundaries or territories when attending a Tribute service - all are welcome.
 
All Veterans are welcome to join us, regardless of whether they are Legion members.
We have included notices for Tribute services conducted by the Charlottetown Legion since 1 July 2008, when this feature was added to our website.
The Act of Remembrance
 
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
 
The Act of Remembrance is the fourth verse of the poem For The Fallen, written by Laurence Binyon in 1914 about the outbreak of the first world war.