Grade 7 students from Rockheights middle school had an interesting field trip recently; they were at the GodB次元官网网址檚 Acre Cemetery in Esquimalt to clean off the headstones of veterans who rest there.
B次元官网网址淲e like to come down at this time of the year in the spring when the weather is nice to give back to the community,B次元官网网址� said teacher Sean Rumble. B次元官网网址淎bout a quarter of the students at Rockheights are part of military families, so itB次元官网网址檚 important to us and to the community.B次元官网网址�
Every year, students read the names and dates on the headstones and find a lot of meaning in reflecting on the fallen military membersB次元官网网址� lives, he said, especially those youth who have relatives in the cemetery.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just another connection to people that matter,B次元官网网址� Rumble added.
The cleaning is in preparation for a larger ceremony happening May 31 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the cemetery. The candlelight vigil includes a visit from the new Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, as well as the Veterans Ombudsman, Guy Parent.
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Students interviewed by the B次元官网网址 felt it was a worthwhile way to spend their time. B次元官网网址淚 feel good because weB次元官网网址檙e helping people, making it look pretty and honouring them I guess,B次元官网网址� said Emily Renaud.
Others were conscientious about their actions at the cemetery.
B次元官网网址淚 just want to avoid disrespecting anyone here today, because I feel itB次元官网网址檚 pretty easy to do something disrespectful at a grave site,B次元官网网址� said Fallon Brodie, B次元官网网址淚 think we should do it more often.B次元官网网址�
Added schoolmate Domanic Bland: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not as bad as I thought it would be, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty fun,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 respectful for the people who died and stuff like that, you want to keep gravestones clean.B次元官网网址�
Some students spoke about members of their families who served in the Canadian military. They found it very meaningful to work amongst the graves.
B次元官网网址淢y great-grandpa on my dadB次元官网网址檚 side served in the military as a gunner on the ship, his name was Lucas Abercrombie,B次元官网网址� said Drew Abercrombie. B次元官网网址淗e died when I was three months old so I never got to meet him B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool just to see everyone serving the military over the years, especially the older people in World War One and Two, and to honour them here today is pretty cool.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢y old family members were in the military,B次元官网网址� added Sean Robertson. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great because we get to give back to the community for what they did for us, and itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see that everybodyB次元官网网址檚 giving respect.B次元官网网址�
The candlelight vigil is open to the public and begins at 6:45 p.m. on May 31. The cemetery is accessible via 1190 Colville Rd., between the 12th and 17th holes at Gorge Vale Golf Club.
