CARSTAIRS-DIDSBURY - Schools in the area remembered those who gave so much for our country. Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs held its Remembrance week event on the morning of Nov. 7, while the Westglen School in Didsbury event was held during the afternoon of the same day.
The Hugh Sutherland School ceremony was MCed by speakers Kevin Hronek and Natalie Paulgaard. The event featured performances by the grade 3s and 4s, the school band, and school choir singing In Flanders Fields.
The guest speaker for the event was Carstairs resident and veteran Jacqueline Buckley. She served in the Canadian military for 20 years before being medically released after a diagnosis of PTSD.
Buckley gave a slide show presentation and talked to the students about her experience with the military as well as the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
"The reason we are gathered here today is to remember those who died serving our country to protect it, and who serve and protect our country for the rights and freedoms we all enjoy today," said Buckley. "Over the many years, many have lost their lives in the fight for freedom."
After Buckley's presentation came the laying of about a dozen wreaths by local groups and organizations.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of the Last Post and Reveille by HSS band conductor David Selensky, two minutes of silence, and God Save the Queen.
The Westglen ceremony was MCed by school principal Carolyn Massel. Following the piping in of the dignitaries and colour party by bagpiper Daniel Anderson, came the singing of O Canada.
After the retiring of the colour party, Massel introduced the guest speaker, Vicky Penner from Carstairs.
Penner talked about her incredible experience growing up in Holland as a little girl during the Nazi occupation. Penner's family harboured several Jews during the occupation at great risk.
"Remembrance Day is always special to me because I think of how my parents took the risk of hiding four Jews and three political refugees in the Netherlands," said Penner.
Penner talked about how her parents, Bob and Emmie Veenstra, who lived in Didsbury for a number of years before retiring in Carstairs, were awarded with a Righteous Among the Nations Certificate in 2005 at a Calgary Jewish synogogue for their efforts in saving Jews during the Second World War.
"My parents chose Canada because it was a free nation whose charter is based on Christian principles," she said. "They also chose Canada mainly because Canadian soldiers liberated Netherlands, particularly, my village.
"Tanks rolled through my village of Wijnjeterp in April 1945. I bet you can hear the shouts of joy as the tanks rolled through. Canadians are still honoured in Holland."
Penner said that all the people her family hid survived the war against great odds and she has been able to make contact and visit with all of them.
Following Penner was the reading of the honour roll by students Doran Shultz and Kai Biggin, the playing of the Last Post and Reveille by Jake Weitz and two minutes of silence for the fallen.
The Act of Remembrance was then read by Carstairs Legion member, Didsbury resident and Second World War veteran Bill Jepps.
The ceremony concluded with the Westglen Grade 8 band playing God Save the Queen and the piping out of the dignitaries and colour party.
