HONOURING THE FALLEN
Youth learn importance of Nov. 11
Thousands of people took part in Remembrance Day ceremonies around Regina on Sunday.
Generations, from young to old, stood in silence to remember those who died in war.
Fourteen-year-old Aiden Bryson said he thinks about soldiers and the lives of veterans during the annual moment of silence. Like most years, he was in attendance at the Brandt Centre for the annual Remembrance Day service.
“These people fought for us and gave their lives,” he said.
Bryson was one of many young people who demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of the day’s ceremonies.
Shaunna Marchuk says she brings her kids to the ceremony, “so that we learn about Remembrance Day, and how the wars went, to remember people who fought for freedom.”
Asked why it is important to teach that lesson to young people in particular, her 10-year-old daughter, Emma, stepped up, unprompted, to answer.
“So that we learn about Remembrance Day and how the war went, and to remember people who fought for freedom,” she said.
Ryan Miller’s grandfather served in the Korean War. He said his family, including his son Slayden, honours him every year by coming to the annual service.
“(Slayden) needs to learn exactly what people fight for, for their country. He needs to know heritage and to show what his (great) grandfather fought for,” he said.
Fielding Hegglin, 13, is a member of the air cadets. He marched with active military members and veterans during Sunday’s ceremony.
He confidently declared he is “going to fly a plane” when asked why he is in cadets.
And he admitted it was a bit overwhelming being surrounded by all the current and former military members during the ceremony.
“It was scary kind of; there’s a bunch of people watching you,” he said. “It’s cool that we’re down there. We look up to them, and they’re proud of us probably, that there’s other people, like young cadets now.”
Ben Eng, a scout leader, was in attendance with a flock of children.
“For our scouts for sure, we always have to encourage them and educate them, give them the information all the time, whether they know or not, because we try to do our part. Many of them really know, because they get a lot of information this time of year, from school, from parents and from scouts,” Eng said.
“Many of the time, they only hear about the importance of respecting veterans, but they never experience it. We always believe that when we bring the kids to such a big event, like this, they have a first-hand experience on understanding the importance of it and understanding that we need to step in and do something,” he said.
“It’s been many years, and today we can see a lot of veterans in wheelchairs. Sooner or later they ’ll be missed. We don’t want them to be missed; we want them to be remembered.
“That’s why bringing the kids to see them, experience them and see them through the parade grounds is an excellent experience for them.”
Regina-wascana MP and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale was one of the many dignitaries who took part in the event.
“It is really vital that the commemoration and the collective memory, and understanding, be passed on, on a constant basis from one generation to the next,” he said.
“Our freedom is not free. It does take those very brave people who are prepared to stand on guard.”