Gordon F. Kells High School hosted a Remembrance Day Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. for the high school and Carlyle Elementary School students to partake in.
In the high school gymnasium, the bright red poppies from the Legion’s Poppy Campaign, stood out against the sea of colours students were wearing, seated for the ceremony.
Students of G.F.K. put together a very nice program which included a performance by the senior band and a short drama focused on Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae who penned the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" 100 years ago.
This famous poem was recited by seven of the G.F.K. grade 12 students. Once finished, Armand McArthur attended and recited a translated Nakota version of “In Flanders Fields” to honour all First Nation Veterans, including two of his uncles who gave their lives in World War II:
“Flanders makoce en waxpexpena oboga. Cagaįciyuŝna iŝakim wopiyabį agųn. Maxbiya iš. Tašiyapobo ohitigįna nowa no. Cotųga hokų naxųbis žecįn giyabi no. Wana ne ųt’ abi no. Ąbá sąpa xtà’iya eha ųnibi. Doka gamneza ohibi no. Wiyoxpiya wamagec’eha. Teųxinabi eha nagaha Flanders makoce en uyųgabi no. Togà įwakixa. Pedágaca expéwaya hecįn cecu no. Hecin wagą duwa nuząbįkta no. Ot’abine ne nagaha Waciniyabi no. Ųgištimabįkteš. Waxbexbina įcaga Flanders makoce en no.”
In attendance were Royal Canadian Legion members from the Carlyle Branch, three members of the Carlyle detachment of the RCMP, members of the Moose Mountain Air Cadets, and three individuals serving in the Canadian Armed Forces including Cpl. Young, Cpl. Doncaster, and Cpl. Quiere.
One of these members, Cpl. Young, said, “The sacrifices made by Canadians in these conflicts has kept our country strong and free. We join to see the world, to have a secure future for ourselves and our families, and of course, to serve our country. We have chosen to wear a uniform and we are willing to die for our country. We have said that above all else, our family our friends, our possessions that we are willing to put the safety and security of Canada ahead of our own. In the Canadian Armed Forces we call that ‘Service Before Self.’”
Jesse Twietmeyer performed “The Last Post” and “The Rouse” for the two-minutes of silence.
