Every year, crosses are built in a park near Memorial Drive to honour each of the thousands of residents of Southern Alberta who gave their lives in defence of freedom. This year, amid the snowstorm on Saturday, volunteers put up 3,620 crosses.
For the past 13 years, students from Delta West Academy have placed silk poppies on the crosses which each bear the name, age at death, rank, regiment and date of death of a southern Alberta soldier who died in war or peacekeeping missions.
The grade 7 kid at Delta West Academy remarked, “I feel grateful for all the troops who sacrificed their lives to protect us and our country. But I’m also saddened by the fact that many of them are under 16 years old. I’ve seen a few 15-year-olds here, as well as several who were 62 years old.
The director of admissions for Delta West Academy said it’s important for students to remember the legacy of what soldiers have done in the past and what peacekeepers continue to do.
According to Amanda Dennis at Delta West Academy, “to know what happened in the past and to avoid future atrocities from happening, but also so that kids are aware and they acknowledge that the liberties we have today are because of what troops have done.”
Veteran Kent Griffiths spent four decades in the Calgary Highlanders, including six months as a peacekeeper in Egypt. He is now a volunteer with the Field of Crosses.
Because the young people are actively immersed in Canadian history, Griffiths remarked, “I find it thrilling to see this.” “They are literally participating in the sacrifices that our military members have made, not just learning about them.”
This year, as the war continues in Ukraine, both young people and veterans paused to think about the soldiers serving there.
“I value what Canada is doing in regards to the refugees and helping the Ukrainians fight their war.
I wish there was no conflict. Every soldier wants that, yet it keeps happening, said Griffiths.
Griffiths feels upbeat after seeing the students at the Field of Crosses. He claimed that due to the young people’s evolving attitudes, peace can be advanced.
The first step towards loving other people and getting along with everyone, he stated, is to be accepting.
Some older individuals find it difficult to accept change, yet positive change is on the way.
The Field of Crosses will have sunrise and sunset flag ceremonies starting on November 1.
Calgary kids lay poppies to remember the dead soldiers and proclaim, “The future is in good hands.”
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