All the regular inhabitants, feathered and human, have been evacuated. Neither pigeon droppings nor bagged wine bottles are anywhere in view. Busy Hastings Street is closed off. The usual squeal of tires and taxi horns are replaced today by the sound of shuffling feet. The Square is guarded today by a veteran army with flags.
Medals glisten on the shoulders of women and men.
On some, the row of medals span their narrow shoulders. Now it has been replaced by the bicoloured Maple Leaf. But there are still Red Ensigns around the Cenotaph today. Clarinets take the second verse, Trumpets the third and so on. The Loudspeaker announces that after the official wreath- laying party is finished it will be permissible for anyone else with wreathes to approach the Cenotaph.