Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk, CFB Shilo Base Commander lays a poppy at the No Stone Left Alone ceremony in Brandon on Nov., 5. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media) .

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

More than 500 school students, CAF Military staff from CFB Shilo, dignitaries and the public gathered in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery for No Stone Left Alone ceremony on Nov. 5.

No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation is an initiative started to dedicate honour and remembrance to Canada’s veterans. The unique ceremony provides students and youth with an authentic experience that creates knowledge, understanding and appreciation of those who serve and the sacrifice of Canada’s fallen.

The event was attended by the CFB Shilo Base Command team, Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk, Regimental Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer Eric LeClair, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, and Brandon City Mayor Jeff Fawcett.

The Base Commander opened his address by expressing gratitude for the support Premier Kinew and Mayor Fawcett dedicated to supporting CAF Veterans.

“Today, we gather at the commencement of the National Week of Remembrance, standing together in respect and gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to Canada … Manitoba and Brandon have a proud history of supporting our military, not least through their close relationship with Canadian Forces Base Shilo,” LCol Cronk said.

“Brandon is a community rooted deeply in remembrance. Over the years, its residents have shown unwavering respect for the brave individuals who have served our country. This connection is perhaps most evident in Brandon Cemetery, where the headstones of fallen soldiers stand as solemn reminders of the sacrifices made to secure our freedoms. Among those laid to rest here are those whose names are woven into the history of courage and dedication to our nation:
• Trooper James Bloomer
• Corporal Dorothy Maria Wakefield
• Sergeant Antony Ingram
• Flying Officer Dallas George Harris
Each of these names marks not only a resting place but a story—a life once lived by a person who served with honour and courage. These individuals walked the same streets, faced the same fears, and held the same hopes we do. In honouring them, we acknowledge the personal and collective cost of the freedoms we cherish today.”

In 2023, more than 11,340 students from 200 communities remembered 80,838 veterans at 287 events across nine countries. The growing movement increased from 2023, when 9,778 students in 168 communities participated in 226 events.

LCol Cronk said one of the most meaningful ways we ensure the legacies of service personnel are passed on is through the No Stone Left Alone foundation.

“Founded in 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta, this organization has become an integral part of communities across Canada, including here in Brandon. Each year, young people visit Brandon Cemetery to place poppies on the graves of our fallen heroes. This simple yet powerful act reminds us that no soldier should be forgotten and that every grave deserves to be honoured.”

PHOTO GALLERY:

CFB Shilo personnel attend the 2024 No Stone Left Alone ceremony Brandon on Nov. 5. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media) .