A person holds a combination of American and Canadian flags at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial before a march in a demonstration, part of a convoy-style demonstration 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 during a small ceremony last week at the National War Memorial. The ceremonial square, located a stone’s throw from Parliament Hill and containing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, was built for such acts of remembrance. This year, however, Canadians have seen very different images 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. It has sparked concern about the sacred site dedicated to Canada’s war dead being used for political purposes and a debate about what steps could be taken to better protect it. Last weekend, someone was seen draping Canadian and American flags at the grave as part of a ceremony streamed live online. The photos and videos were widely shared on social media before the accounts, which appeared to be linked to “Freedom Pact” supporters, were shut down. It drew an outcry, including from Defense Minister Anita Anand, who called it “desecration”. It also prompted calls for more security, including from the Royal Canadian Legion, which first made such a request after the monument was deemed disrespected, including through public urination, near the start of the three-week protest that took over downtown Ottawa this week. in the winter. . On the eve of Canada Day, army reservist James Topp spoke to hundreds of people gathered at the cenotaph and compared himself and others fighting vaccine mandates to the unknown Canadian soldier killed in the First World War, whose remains were buried in the tomb. Court-martialed for publicly criticizing federal vaccine requirements while in uniform, Topp had arrived at the grave after a four-month march from Vancouver that made him 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 headgear and medals to signify their veteran status. “What did we have in common with this person? … We had courage.” A group called Veterans 4 Freedom, which supported Topp’s march and includes members with links to the “Freedom Convoy,” also held a rally at the memorial during April’s “Rolling Thunder” event, where members gave speeches against of vaccines and pandemic restrictions. “Canadians must sacrifice to preserve our freedom,” one speaker told the crowd. “They went to France. They fought in the South Pacific, the Battle of Britain. They sacrifice with their lives. But nowadays, we have to sacrifice in a different way.” Veterans 4 Freedom declined to comment. Topp mentioned in his June 30 speech. David Hofmann is an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick and co-leader of the government-funded Network for Research on Hate 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 Soldier to such causes. “It’s a powerful symbol,” Hoffman said. “You have the Unknown Soldier, the ultimate martyr, someone who is not even remembered by name. And you have these individuals … who try 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, disagreed with those who wanted to use the site “as a centerpiece for political dissent.” “This is a tomb,” he said. “If they want to make such a statement, go to Parliament. That’s what it’s for, not for the grave.” Others have suggested that some of those who use the monument to bolster grievances against the government actually represent the opposite of the selflessness for which the sites are dedicated. “The Unknown Soldier died for his country. He died in a selfless act,” said Youri Cormier, executive director of the Conference of Defense Associations Institute think tank. “When you honk and holler about an idea of personal liberties that excludes one’s duty to one’s nation, the observance of the law, and … respecting the principle that one’s liberty ends where it infringes upon the liberties of others, one puts oneself above the nation . “ In that context, some, such as the legion and Cormier, who noted that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va., is guarded around the clock by armed military members, have called for more security at the memorial. “No one is allowed to usurp or appropriate the sacred grounds of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for any stunt or campaign,” Cormier said. “This sacred space is not for the taking.” Public Services and Procurement Canada says the site is monitored 24-7, but does not comment on calls for more security. While the Canadian Armed Forces have a ceremonial guard at the memorial for tourists, the Ottawa police are responsible for site security. The killing of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo by an Islamic State supporter in October 2014 prompted a review of security at the memorial and the eventual deployment of military police. But their job is to protect the ritualists while they are on duty. It is not clear exactly what kind of security measures need to be taken now. Most experts agree that authorities should not limit or limit public access to the monument, in part because the vast majority of visitors to the site respect ?—but also because such a move could benefit certain groups. “In some ways, that’s more dangerous because it feeds into the 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 Ontario Tech University. Officials erected fences around the memorial at the launch of the “Freedom Pact” after a woman stood at the grave. But they were later taken down by protesters. Many of them identified themselves as veterans and said they were reclaiming the site — a message echoed as a reason for rallying at the cenotaph during the “Rolling Thunder” event this spring. Retired Lt. Gen. Mike Day also opposed the idea of US-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 there is a cost to that,” Day said. “But I think the cost of blocking them and not making them accessible is greater. I accept, therefore, that there will be people as we have seen who will take advantage of it.”
