There was a palpable stillness in GodB次元官网网址檚 Acre Cemetery on Friday morning as dozens of middle school students drifted between the headstones.
The Grade 6/7 classes from Rockheights Middle School were participating in the B次元官网网址淣o Stone Left AloneB次元官网网址� program, which sees students place poppies at the graves of Canadian veterans.
B次元官网网址淭he No Stone Left Alone Foundation is committed to making a realistic remembrance experience for school-aged students,B次元官网网址� said Rockheights principal Maryanne Trofimuk. B次元官网网址淭he goal is to educate and most importantly engage our youth in honouring every soldier that has fought for our Canadian freedom and to ensure these soldierB次元官网网址檚 acts of bravery are recognized and never forgotten.B次元官网网址�
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Rockheights students were the first school in B.C. to participate in the program in 2013, but are now amongst 8,000 students across Canada who place poppies at more than 50,000 graves in 101 cemeteries.
The students heard from Canadian Forces veteran James MacMillan-Murphy, a multi-tour blue beret airborne veteran who was accompanied by his PTSD service dog, Cullie. MacMillan-Murphy recounted his times under fire while in Cyprus, and read a poem he wrote at the time.
B次元官网网址淚t makes me feel so proud to be an Esquimalt resident when I see what our schools do here,B次元官网网址� MacMillan-Murphy said. B次元官网网址淢y heart is so full of joy respect and appreciation to you young students here today. I remember how I felt in those days under fire, and you guys have eased that so much. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what I can give you accept to say I salute you and I thank you for what youB次元官网网址檝e done for our community. B次元官网网址�
Students were each given 25 poppies to lay at veteran headstones and were asked to take a moment to read the personB次元官网网址檚 name and reflect on their life before moving on.
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B次元官网网址淚 became quite emotional, because they gave their lives fighting for us,B次元官网网址� said Grade 6 student Simon Low, who sat reflectively at each grave.
Grade 7 student Chaeli Alsdorf said she felt a real connection through the process, especially since she might have a relative in the cemetery.
B次元官网网址淟ast year my friends found someone with my last name, and everyone got pretty excited,B次元官网网址� Alsdorf explained. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know that weB次元官网网址檙e related, but we could be.B次元官网网址�
Her friend, Trinity Orrick also believed having that connection with the people in the cemetery was important.
B次元官网网址淚 just think itB次元官网网址檚 cool how everyone gets to go see every grave and you can go think about what they did,B次元官网网址� Orrick said. B次元官网网址淵ou should always think and feel connected to them, and try to know them.B次元官网网址�
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