“Good morning. I would like to welcome everyone to Norquay School’s annual Remembrance Day Service. My name is Jayden Heskin and it is my pleasure to be your emcee.”
With that introduction, everyone rose as members of the Norquay branch of the Royal Canadian Legion entered the gymnasium, and all remained standing for the singing of O Canada, followed by playing of The Last Post, two minutes of silence and Reveille.
Members of the Legion then placed the colours and were seated, at which time the service began.
“Across Canada and in many other nations around the globe, people gather on November 11 to honour the courage and devotion of brave men and women who have made, and continue to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The hostilities of the First World War ceased 101 years ago on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m.: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
“The following year marked the first observance of a day to remember and honour those who died, as well as to give thanks for the sacrifices of those who returned home from service. Since then, Canadians have been involved in other war and peacekeeping missions around the globe. In these efforts, many have given their lives so that we might enjoy freedom today. They too shall be remembered.
They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grown old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Heath Morin (teacher) and Salem Johnson laid a wreath on behalf of the staff and students of Norquay School.
Ella Foster then read the article entitled Remembrance Day.
Emily Livingstone was introduced to read Don Crawford’s poem Why Wear a Poppy.
“Each year the students of Norquay School prepare work for Remembrance Day,” Heskin continued. “Some of these students are happy to be able to share their work with us today. The Grades 2 to 5 classes have prepared a choral reading called In Flanders’s Field.”
Grade 6 student, Jack Korpusik was called upon to read the poem Because of You by Eleonora Mustafa, after which Jordyn Seversen, Grade 7, read her original poem Daddy Don’t Go.
Tessa Reine was introduced to read her composition, a poem, If only I had known, and Carson Ebert read his poem titled Tik Tok. Both students are in Grade 8.
This was followed by Grade 9 student, Jaxson Lindgren, who read his untitled poem, followed by Kortny Wasylyniuk and her poem Remembrance Day”.
Grade 10 student Randi Foster was introduced to share her poem, The Eyes, and Haylie Desjarlais read Alexa Olson’s poem titled My Baby Boy.
Grade 11 student Micah Johnson read a poem written by classmate Tatiana Bellows, The Bravest Flower, followed by Ella Foster, Grade 12, reading her untitled poem.
“On behalf of the staff and students of Norquay School, I would like to thank the Legion and the RCMP for being a part of our service this morning, Heskin said. “Please rise for the singing of God Save the Queen, and thank you for attending our service today.”
