Teaching young people about Remembrance Day

By Jamie Rieger

Sitting amongst the dozens of people who came out to show their respects at the Foremost Community Hall on Nov. 11 were many young people; all too young to know what life would be like without the peace and freedom we enjoy in Canada.

They listened as Rev. Mac de Waal read from scripture and told of peace beginning in the hearts of the individual. They watched the ceremonial colour guard, led by members of the RCMP, march down the aisle and place flags at the front of the room. Some laid wreaths in honour of family members or on behalf of local businesses and non-profit organizations.

How important it is for us adults to teach our young people about the wars that have taken so many of our brave soldiers and to have these young people engaged with the ceremony, paying attention to all that was taking place before them.

On Nov. 10, I attended the Senator Gershaw/Bow Island Elementary schools’ Remembrance Day service. The students recited poetry and sang songs related to Remembrance Day and did a remarkable job for the many who attended the service.

Even the Elementary students played an active part in the ceremony, learning about the importance of recognizing past wars every year in November.

As the bugling of the Last Post ended, they all knew that it was time for two minutes of silence to honour and remember our fallen soldiers. The entire room fell quiet as people reflected on the importance of the moment.

That is, everybody except one little elementary student whose queasy tummy got the better of him and the only sound in the room was this little guy falling ill. The rest of the crowd remained quiet, but I have no doubt that all were thinking of this boy and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Still, the people in the room remained quiet and respectful. There was no whispering or talking until another little boy piped up, “It was Caleb.”

So, I am hoping Caleb is feeling better now and I want him to know that everybody there was feeling compassion for him and hoping he would have a speedy recovery.

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