Michael is part of the Grade 6 leadership group at River Heights Elementary School and took part in leading the Remembrance Day ceremony this year.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
River Heights Elementary School held its Remembrance Day ceremony Wednesday, the day before students were off for an extended long weekend.
The Grade 6 leadership group, which Michael is part of, led the assembly this year. Michael’s spoken in front of the school before, but said he still gets nervous when he sees all the people in front of him.
The group took turns reading off the script they put together for the assembly, with Michael telling the audience about John McCrae and his ‘In Flanders Field’ poem, along with why there is a minute of silence held.
“I think it’s very interesting that he wrote it while he was in the fighting and how it’s inspired people to wear the poppy,” said Michael, who also reflected on the meaning of Remembrance Day. “It’s a time to think about everybody who has done a lot of stuff and protecting our country so we can have peace.”
Crescent Heights High School’s Remembrance Day display this year is about women in service, with uniforms from the nursing corps, marine corps, air force, army and naval services.
“For the strength of our students, half our population is female, and you don’t get to see a lot of this, it’s usually one uniform mixed in with 25 (male uniforms),” explained teacher Steven Kemp, who organized the display.
The Ghost Squadron Military Museum provided the uniforms and posters, and last year when Kemp was talking to the curator, he mentioned it would be nice to have a display focused on women in service.
Principal Shonna Barth thinks it’s important to recognize the women who served in world wars as well as those who are in service now.
“There’s lots going on in the world right now and the kids seem to be taking this even more seriously this year than last year,” stated Barth. “Our Remembrance Day celebrations were extremely reverent and mature; we were really impressed with how the kids handled themselves. I think it’s important they see this visual representation as well as the celebrations we have in the gym.”
Barth’s grandmother Doris Pritchard served in England during the Second World War and became a war bride after meeting her future husband Roy Pritchard, who was also serving.
The annual community Remembrance Day service begins Saturday morning at the Esplanade. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. to the main building and theatre doors open at 8:45 a.m. with the ceremony beginning at 9:15 a.m. The Remembrance Day parade to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park starts at 10:30 a.m. with the ceremony at the Cenotaph at 11 a.m.
