Old and young, Pincher Creek Remembers

Soldiers dream of peace - Sgt. Norman Walker at Matthew Halton School

Toni Lucas and Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

On November 6 and 7, 2013 members of Pincher Creek Legion #43 were accompanied by cadets as they made their rounds to Remembrance ceremonies in the area.  The cadets were from 2309 Fort Macleod Army Cadets and 859 Crowsnest Military Police Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, both of which include cadets from the Pincher Creek area.

Piper Hayden Varley with the Colour Party at Matthew Halton School
Photos and video T. Lucas and C. Davis

Colour Party

Royal Canadian Legion  Pincher Creek #43  

• Executive John Baker
• President Richard Waywood
• Sgt. at Arms Fred White
• Sgt. Norm Walker
• WW2 Veteran Bill Everts
• WW2 Veteran Woody Riley
• Current Service Veteran Pierre Comeau 
• Ladies Auxillary Ethel Luco

859 Crowsnest Military Police Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron

• Sgt. Palao
• Flight Cpl. Lincez
• Cpl. Bannick
• Cadet Smith
• Cadet Ludwig

2309 Fort Macleod Army Cadets 

• Master Bombardier Corchesne
• Master Bombardier Corchesne
• Sgt. Corchesne

Pincher Creek RCMP

• Constable Doug Sokoloski
• Auxiliary Constable Mel Massini

Colour Party at Crestview Lodge

Colour Party at Vista Village

On November 6 they began at St. Michael's School and then on to Matthew Halton School and Vista Village.  On November 7 they began at Canyon School and then on to Livingstone School and Crestview Lodge.

Colour Party at St. Michael's School

At all of these locales the event proper began with a Colour Party march in, followed by introductions. A minute or two of silence was observed, of course.

Sgt. Norman Walker

Sgt. Norman Walker was the featured speaker this year, and he was tremendous, adapting his speech to each different audience while maintaining his main theme at each one; Peace.  He had kids and at least one reporter flashing him the peace sign back.

Sgt. Walker explained why he is proud to be a Canadian.  "There is no reason why you should not be proud to be a Canadian."  He told a wonderful story about how he and Canadian troops everywhere spread peace and understanding.  Speaking about his first tour as a United Nations peace keeper he was stationed in an area that was agricultural.

"When war comes, and the killing starts, innocent people are mostly the ones that suffer."

Colour Party Cadets at Vista Village

He said everywhere he went the first people that the troops would meet were always the children. Soldiers would flash them the two fingers up sign for peace, and the children would learn to flash it back.  Soldiers would share treats from their rations with the locals, bringing some happiness into lives that had been overshadowed by war.

"We eventually got to meet their parents."  Walker said most of the adults that they met were elderly men due to the way the culture worked there.  Whether they were Greek, Turkish, Armenian, or Palestinian someone spoke enough English to communicate.

"They were just like your mom and dad, your grandma and grandpa.  They were concerned about their children, their families, and wanted to provide a living.  They wanted a safe environment."  He and the other troops would escort people back and forth so they could care for their crops without fear of danger.

He spoke of other Canadian efforts to bring happiness to people that have less, such as Samaritan's Purse.  Walker reminded young and old,  "I want you to remember, and be proud, and be grateful that you are a Canadian."  Watch an extended version of Walker's speech on the video accompanying this article, it's well worth it.

Many recitations were performed, including of course 'In Flanders Fields', written during the First World War by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, as we were reminded at Livingstone School.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

~  Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

At Canyon School Grade 6 students Johnny Parker and Sam Noel read 'Why Remember', Brooke Hammond read 'Possibilities', and Natalie Scout read 'The Drum Beat'.

Emily Milligan spoke the opening and closing prayers at St. Michael's School.

Alexandra Morgan

Music was part of many of the events as well.  At Matthew Halton School Alexandra Morgan sang 'O Canada' and another song, Alyssa Barbero sang an old CCR favourite 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain', and Alexis Breckenridge sang a wistful 'The Call'.  it's worth noting that these three young ladies have sung at almost every Matthew Halton School event where you can sing in recent memory, taking turns at 'O Canada' (and even 'Travelling Soldier'), and each is really finding their sound now.  They were terrific.  So were the various students who recited poetry at various locales.  A great deal of thought and emotion went into their art.   As with Sgt.Walker,  peace was most often the theme.  The Canyon School Choir sang 'Where Can We find Peace?' led by Kathy Brown.

At every school there was a wreath ceremony.

Wreath ceremony at St. Michael's School

At St. Michael's School the wreaths were quite individualistic, many of them very personal creations.

At Canyon School the wreath was presented by Arianna Prairie Chicken and Easton Fitzpatrick.

Wreath ceremony at Matthew Halton School

At Livingstone School Officers Doug Sokolski and Melvin Massini escorted student Mathais Vanderplas to lay the wreath.  Once the wreath was laid, the students were invited to come and place a poppy in the wreath in memory of family that had given service, or out of respect to those that had fought for freedom.  Most of the student body moved to do this.

Wreath at Livingstone School

At Crestview Lodge and Vista Village the colour party mingled with residents after the ceremonies were concluded, exchanging stories and socializing.

We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument ~source