Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Around 40 students placed poppies on the graves of veterans at the Jasper Cemetery during a drizzly Tuesday morning, ahead of Remembrance Day.
Officially launched in 2011, No Stone Left Alone is a national organization dedicated to honouring the sacrifice and service of Canada鈥檚 military by educating students and placing poppies on the headstones of veterans every November.
Jasper was the first town to adopt the No Stone Left Alone initiative outside of its birth city of Edmonton.
Jasper Legion vice president Greg Key read a message from Maureen Bianchini-Purvis, No Stone Left Alone Foundation鈥檚 founder and president.
鈥淎s Remembrance days approaches, I want to thank you all for taking the opportunity to pay tribute to our men and women in uniform, to show our appreciation to our veterans and to honour the memory of those who bravely gave their lives in service to Canada.
鈥淭he ceremony today reminds us how important it is to remember. If we keep their memory alive, we are doing our part towards a peaceful future.鈥�
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland and Padre David Prowse each gave an address to the students about the importance of honouring the veterans who gave their lives in service to Canada.
Keith Henderson laid a wreath at James Robinson鈥檚 grave and students read Flanders Fields, both in English and French.
After Sergeant at Arms DJ Klymchuk reviewed the poppy laying protocol, groups of students led by teachers proceeded to their sections to place poppies.
