The sacrifices made by indigenous people who volunteered to serve their country should never be overlooked.
Sheila Mennear, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #223 in Sundre, said the contributions of Canada's indigenous people should be recognized equally alongside all of their comrades in arms.
So for the first time, she invited a member of Sundre's aboriginal community, Lauretta Kelway, to lay a wreath last year as the Silver Cross Mother in honour of indigenous people's participation in the country's armed forces all the way back to the World wars up to Afghanistan.
"I felt it was time that the native soldiers were celebrated," said Mennear about inviting Kelway, who will return to lay another wreath this year.
Stigmas and stereotypes surrounding indigenous communities throughout Canada continue to permeate public perception of a people struggling on reservations, unable to tap into their potential, said Mennear.
"(But) we have people like Lauretta who go out in the world and make their own way."
Although Kelway has not lost any children to armed conflict, she does have relatives and family friends who served including some who paid the ultimate price.
"I do know a lot of people who have gone," she said, remembering a close friend of her father's who fought during the Second World War and was among those fortunate enough to make it home to live out the rest of his life, passing away about six years ago.
"I just grew up knowing him ó he was quite young when he went over."
Many Canadians do not necessarily recognize or perhaps even know about the efforts and sacrifices made by indigenous people, who volunteered for the armed forces without any obligation other than an innate sense of duty to serve, she said.
"I always think of them when Remembrance Day comes around."
Originally from a small community in B.C., Kelway, who now lives just west of Sundre, said in the past she has laid wreaths on behalf of employers, but that last year was her first time placing a wreath in recognition of Canada's indigenous people.
Being asked to lay a wreath on behalf of their memory "makes me feel quite honoured," she said, adding how impressed she was by last year's turnout at the legion.
There are several Remembrance Day services scheduled in Sundre. Members of the legion will attend the ceremony at River Valley School on Nov. 8 at about 9 a.m., followed by a service at the high school later that morning at 10:45 a.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.
On Nov. 10 there will be a service at the Mountain View Seniors' Housing lodge in the morning starting at about 9 a.m., followed by a ceremony at the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre at about 11 a.m.
The legion will be hosting its annual ceremony at the hall on the morning of Nov. 11. Traditional piper Dale McIntyre and bugler Jennifer Day will play at the service again.
"I believe it's very important," Mennear said about Remembrance Day.
"A lot of times a person just goes on their merry way not thinking about history and what happened. Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again."
She said Remembrance Day is an annual reminder of how terribly wrong events can unfold on the global stage and how imperative it is for the world to continuously strive to resolve conflict.
Equally important, she said, is paying tribute to all of those people who gave up their lives or significantly changed their paths, putting their dreams on hold ó sometimes permanently ó to contribute to the collective effort to make the world a better place for everyone.
"This is what Remembrance Day means to me," she said.
"It's a celebration of the lives of those who gave everythingÖthose people should not be forgotten."
