ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A18 | PIPELINE NEWS NORTH | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021
SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Tory Thompson and Tessa Batten look at the pictures of Fort St. John veterans who have passed away, on the Royal Canadian Legion tables, November 10, 2021.
Lest they forget Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca Anne Roberts Young Elementary students visited the Fort St. John Legion and Cenotaph last week to honour the city’s veterans and learn just what it means to remember on Remembrance Day. Crystal Dutchak’s Grade 4 class received a guided tour of the Legion from Major Dan Davies of the Fort St. John Cadet Corps. “We’re learning about why it’s important to remember on Remembrance Day,” Dutchak said. “They go through the motions, but it’s about teaching them what we’re supposed to be thinking about when we take a moment of silence.” Davies has given students tours and taught about Remembrance Day for years. “To me, this is a critical generation who needs to come here and be a part of this. They’ll wear a poppy and recite the poems, but what does it mean? You need to put value and understanding to the faces and stories,” Davies said. “The biggest gasp was when they saw the plaques of all the local World War II vet-
erans who have passed away on the wall. Those are local people who have served our country.” The students had a chance to ask Davies questions throughout the tour. Davies told students about the bulldozer on display, and how it was involved in the construction of the Alaska Highway, as well as the military truck used in World War II, before showing them the artifacts on display inside the legion. The students learned about the Cenotaph and what it represents. “It’s a tomb, an unoccupied tomb or monument, that represents all the men and women from the past battles, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions, who have given the ultimate sacrifice — that is, given their life for their country,” Davies told the students. “This represents all the people who never made it home. It’s why we where a poppy as well, something that each of us can wear leading up to Remembrance Day, to say that we do respect those who have given so much, and to honour those who are still serving.”
TOM SUMMER PHOTOS
Taylor Elementary students visited the Peace Valley Cemetery today to place poppy-painted rocks on the headstones of World War veterans who have been laid to rest in the community. The visit was part of the school’s Remembrance Day teachings as well as the No Stone Left Alone initiative, which aims to honour the sacrifice and service of Canada’s military by educating students and placing poppies on the headstones of veterans every November.