‘The Torch Has Been Passed’: West Island Students Participate in Remembrance Day Ceremony – Montreal | The Canadian News

West Island students and local politicians participated in a Remembrance Day ceremony to honor veterans.

The ceremony took place in Heroes Park in Beaconsfield.

It began when young Canadians carried the flag and veterans lowered it to half mast to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Students from Christmas Park Elementary, John Rennie High School, and Beaconsfield Highschool participated and presented their talents to honor the lives lost in the search for freedom.

Students played The Last Post and also read John McRae’s In the fields of Flanders poem.

Politicians were present, their speeches focused on young people.

“As you grow and become the leaders of tomorrow, you still have many freedoms here at home. Don’t take your freedoms for granted, ”said Jacques-Cartier MNA, Greg Kelley.

Students were also reminded of how the man named after their school board also served in the war.

Lester B. Pearson volunteered for service during World War I and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his diplomatic efforts in the wake of the Suez Crisis (a military and political confrontation in Egypt), and now it serves as an example. .

Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle told students that, as McCrae said in his poem, the torch was passed to them.

“Keep it up, so we don’t forget it,” the mayor said.

It is a responsibility that some students say they do not take lightly.

“It’s very important, we all have to do that, to make our community and all of Canada a better place to live,” said Beaconsfield High School student Jakob Desmeules.

Veterans like retired Major General Richard Gratton say they are touched to see younger generations participate.

“It’s comforting,” Gratton said.

Gratton was the master of ceremonies and shared the story of his visit to The National Field of Honor Cemetery in Pointe-Claire, where a grave marked him forever.

“It is this child who lied on his request and was killed and on the grave, the tombstone [read] 15 years. And that was the message that came to mind today when I saw the children… I should tell them that there are people who make sacrifices and this 15-year-old boy… gave his life, ”Gratton said.

It was a shocking anecdote for Desmeules.

“I am 12 years old, so there are only three years of difference. No, I really can’t imagine that, ”Desmeules said.

As difficult as those stories may be, Gratton, who served in Afghanistan, says it’s important to know our past so that we don’t make the same mistakes in the future.