2505 1 RCHA Army Cadet Evan Oliver lays a poppy on the foot of a headstone at the No Stone Left Alone Ceremony held in Brandon Veterans Cemetery on Nov. 6. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag)
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media
“Remembrance belongs to all Canadians,” said CFB Shilo Base Commander LCol J.P. Nguyen at the No Stone Left Alone Ceremony
Hundreds of elementary school students and attendees commemorated military remembrance and sacrifice at the growing No Stone Left Alone (NSLA) movement at Brandon Veterans Cemetery on Nov. 6.
Manitoba Lieutenant-Governor Anita Neville said the ceremonies humbly pay tribute to those who gave their lives defending our great nation and the values we hold dear.
“Each of the headstones here represents a life, one filled with hopes, with dreams, and with ambitions. Many of those fallen heroes were young people who volunteered to serve their country despite the risks and inherent dangers of wartime,” she said.
The grassroots campaign, now in its 13th year in Brandon, teaches children the significance of Remembrance Day and lets each student place a poppy on a soldier’s grave so no headstone is forgotten.
Ryan Lawson, one of the NSLA organizers, said he is proud to see the phenomenal growth, supported by the Brandon School Division and the community as a whole.
He said NSLA teaches youth through a personal, meaningful act of remembrance, helping them better understand the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve our country.
“It allows young Canadians to connect with the soldiers behind the headstones and appreciate the peace, freedom and opportunities we enjoy today. Most importantly, it would ensure that this sense of gratitude and remembrance would be carried forward throughout their lives.”
CFB Shilo Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Nguyen said that, as important as the NSLA ceremony is, what gives him the greatest hope is seeing how many students participated in the commemorations.
“The simple act of placing a poppy on a headstone may seem small, but it carries enormous meaning. It connects young Canadians with those who came before them, and it reminds us that remembrance is not a responsibility that belongs only to the Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the members, but it belongs to all Canadians.”
He said the Veterans we honour and live today chose service and duty and, in many cases, accepted extraordinary sacrifice so future generations could enjoy freedoms and opportunities that are taken for granted.
“Years from now, you may not remember every lesson that you learned in school,” LCol Nguyen said, addressing the students. “But I hope you remember how it feels today to stand and serve, to walk among those headstones, to pause at a time and see a name that you have not seen before and realize that, as a person who lived, who loved and who cherished another, that is understanding of how we keep the legacy alive.
“As we place the poppies today, let us remember not only the Canadians whose names are written in stone, but also the values for which they stood: service, courage, sacrifice and the love of country. These values endure because we choose to remember them.
CFB Shilo Base Commander J.P. Nguyen and Regimental Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer Corcoran place a wreath at the cenotaph in the Brandon Veterans Cemetery for the No Stone Left Alone Ceremony on Nov. 6. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag)
