CHHS students visited Hillside Cemetery on Monday in order to leave poppies on soldier and veteran gravesites ahead of Remembrance Day.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Crescent Heights High School students ensured no soldier was forgotten this Remembrance Day through the No Stone Left Alone program.
Monday saw students at Hillside Cemetery to leave poppies on the graves of soldiers and veterans following a brief ceremony. MC Marco Jansen expressed that this ceremony was part of an effort both across the country and worldwide to continue to involve youth in honouring those who gave their lives in battle.
“When I see you place your poppies today, I’m reminded that the courage and compassion of Canadian soldiers still lives on through your actions of remembrance,” said Jansen. “In the Netherlands, school children still visit the graves of Canadian soldiers. They place flowers, read names and promise to remember, just as you are doing here today.
“Your actions in Medicine Hat and theirs across the ocean are part of the same bond of gratitude, one that began 80 years ago and continues through you.”
This year marks a full decade of No Stone Left Alone for organizer Trish Tuchschere, inviting school classes out to the cemetery to place poppies on the headstones and have a moment to make a personal connection to the importance of remembrance.
“It’s designed to teach kids the importance, why we go to Remembrance Day ceremonies,” said Tuchschere.
She says that over the years, she’s seen significant impact on the students who participate, something echoed by CHHS student Hadley Riley, who remarked on how some of the people being remembered were barely older than he was.
“It means a lot to us just to remember them and honour them,” said Riley. “They defended our land and our freedom and it just really matters that we don’t forget them.”
