Sunningdale Elementary School held its annual Remembrance Day assembly on Nov. 9, including raising 159 Canadian flags for the 158 soldiers and one civilian who died in Afghanistan.
The ceremony took place in the Sunningdale School gym and was MCed by students Taliyah Purcell and Rhyen Ubell. Sunningdale Principal Dave Osberg thanked all the students for their presence and reminded them it was a solemn occasion.
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was represented by CWO Eric Keur of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.
Keur spoke to the assembly about the history and purpose of the CAF, including a brief outline of the battles of Vimy Ridge and Dieppe. He also talked about the peace-time duties of the CAF, such as assisting in disaster relief. Keur took some time following his remarks to answer questions from students and encouraged them to learn more about the CAF.
The Friends of the Forces Fellowship, which works to strengthen ties between the military community at 15 Wing and the civilian community in Moose Jaw, presented Sunningdale School with the Lois Boyle Award for their special efforts to honour military dead.
“I am so delighted to be with you this morning to make a presentation to the school for the work that you and your comrades have done for the last 12 years,” said Joyce Walter, secretary/treasurer of the Fellowship.
“The award you’re receiving for the school is called the Lois Boyle Community Service Award. … Mrs. Boyle is considered the mother of the Snowbirds. … And she was very involved in the community and she certainly was an advocate for remembering the soldiers who gave their lives.”
Ken Hawkes and Robb Nesbitt from the Friends of the Forces Fellowship helped to present the Lois Boyle Award.
The ceremony included the singing of the national anthem and the recitation of several poems. Each class at the school formally and respectfully laid a wreath at the front of the gym.
Because of the weather, the school’s now-traditional raising of 159 flags was done during the Remembrance Day ceremony rather than outside. Students were prepared, and raised their flags high when prompted by Osberg.
“I am very proud of our students, they take Remembrance Day seriously,” Osberg said following the event. “They know the purpose and they’ve learned a lot about what it means to be free and the sacrifices that have been made for that freedom. There were 475 kids in the gym and they were hanging on every word and were very quiet and respectful.”
