Remembrance Day Heroes’ students participated in ceremonies

On Friday, November 10, Heroes’ Memorial School in Cowansville welcomed the members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 99 to its Remembrance Day commemorative ceremony. Joining the members of the legion was a special addition, Leon Nowacki, who had served in Poland, and at 87 he recalled having seen active service as an underage soldier during World War II. He is the father of the school secretary, Mary Ann Murphy. He was impressed by the atmosphere of the whole assembly.

Representing the town was Marie France Beaudry, councilor for the Vilas District. She laid a wreath. David Warner of the Cowansville Community Baptist Church represented the churches in our area when he placed a cross on the central table. President Robert Bouthot laid a wreath, as did Sylvain Hamel, the district commander for the legions in this area. They spoke the Act of Remembrance, one in English, and one in French.

In the audience were two senior classes from St. Leon School, their French neighbouring school from across the street. One student, Mia, brought up a wreath with Gabriel Neil, representing both schools, which were uniting on this day. At the end of the assembly students and staff from both schools exchanged greetings.

The assembly began and ended with the entrance of the colours, which means the entrance of the flags of Quebec, Canada, and the legion. Around the gym Lisa Bates and her class had put up over a hundred poppies to represent each Canadian who had died in the Afghanistan mission. It was a vivid and moving reminder of continuing sacrifices being made.

Throughout the assembly Laura Barr had numerous appropriate musical numbers performed by the Heroes’ Memorial Band and Choir.

On the next day, the 11th, Donna Smith and Rodney Smith laid a wreath at the cenotaph representing the school.

With a name like Heroes’ Memorial, continued recognition of the part played by men and women in service will go on for years to come.