Remembrance Day 2019

Remembrance Day was on a Monday this year.  The date, November 11, doesn’t change, but the day of the week changes every year.  Schools & government offices in Nunavut are closed.  Students & teachers enjoyed a three-day weekend but many of them, as well as community members, set aside time to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the community hall, organized by 3045 Army Cadet Corps.

            

As I have previously written, on many occasions, planning for the ceremony begins weeks in advance.  Canada’s most northern cadet corps prides itself on planning ahead.  There are many components that need to come together to make the 60-minute event enjoyable, respectful, and memorable.  Thankfully, the program stays the same, so all you need to do is find and assign people to do specific tasks.  The tasks set aside for cadets are assigned first and then corps staff seek volunteers from the community.  Many local Canadian Rangers would be present this year.   

            

I made an announcement at Inuujaq School the week before the ceremony, asking for donations of Remembrance Day decorations.  Classes donated enough decorations to fill two Bankers boxes.  Thank you. 

            

The cadets are not required to do much drill for the ceremony.  Most of the movements are done at the halt but there is some marching at the beginning & end.  The most challenging part is standing at attention for six minutes in the middle of the ceremony.  Music is played three times and there is a Minute of Silence.  I practiced these parts with the cadets. 

            

The corps held its dress rehearsal at the community hall on Wednesday, November 6.  We went over the entire program twice.  The cadets with special tasks – parade commander, flag party, laying the corps wreath, reciting In Flanders Fields – received extra attention so they wouldn’t feel overwhelmed on the day of the ceremony.  I reminded the cadets at the end of the practice to make sure their green dress uniforms were ready for Monday.  I made a mental note to work on my uniform over the weekend.

            

Flag Party.

The cadets & I arrived at the community hall at 9:30am for setup.  We put up chairs, tables, decorations, and a podium.  Frank & his wife printed the programs and placed them on a table in the lobby.  Thank you.  I set up a piano keyboard brought from the school because I would be providing instrumental accompaniment for two hymns.  (Third time).  I made sure there were separate rows of chairs for the cadets & Rangers, and a nearby table with cups filled with water.  I didn’t want anyone passing out from standing too long.  Doors opened at 10:30am.  By 10:44am we had a sizeable audience.  I did my final checks and ushered the VIPs to their seats at the front of the hall.  I signaled the flag party at 10:45am to begin their drill routine.

           

Audience.

Cadet Platoon Commander.

The two cadets, carrying the flags of Canada and the Cadet Program, marched around the audience and planted the flags on the left side of the hall.  (The Canadian Rangers flag had already been placed).  They took their positions as left markers.  Everyone stood as the cadet platoon commander brought the cadets to attention and marched them into the hall.  The Canadian Rangers and RCMP marched behind them.  Reverend Leah May led everyone in an opening prayer.  Cadets & military personnel are required to remove their berets for prayer and replace them after. 

            

Me doing the Welcome Address.
Kataisee A. translates.

I continued the ceremony with my Welcome Address.  The speech was short and mostly the same as the one I used last year.  The only change I made was mentioning this year as the 100^th anniversary of the signing of The Treaty of Versailles.  I briefly explained the treaty was thought to ensure everlasting peace but instead led to the Second World War twenty years later.  I ended my address by requesting everyone to stand for the playing of O Canada.

            

Me playing the piano.

The first Bible reading, Micah 4: verses 3 & 4, was read in English & Inuktitut.  I then moved over to the piano and played the song Abide With Me.  The audience sang the verses in both languages.  The next part of the ceremony was the toughest for the cadets.  It’s the part where they stand at attention for six minutes because the sequence is: Last Post, Minute of Silence, Piper’s Lament, and Reveille.  The cadet platoon commander, Rangers, RCMP, myself, and any other military personnel, are required to salute for Last Post & Reveille.  The cadets made it through without fainting.

Cadet reading the Act of Remembrance.

The Act of Remembrance was read in English, French, and Inuktitut.  A cadet read the English text, the head chef of the Tangmaarvik Inn read the French text, and Inuk Elder Martha Q. read the Inuktitut text.  

            

The second Bible reading was Psalm 121 and it was also read in both languages.  An Inuk Elder talked about his Thoughts On Remembrance Day.  During this section, I quietly handed out cups of water to the cadets, Rangers, and RCMP on parade.  I also handed out cups of water to a few elders in the audience. 

           

Canadian Rangers.

Canadian Rangers.

Two cadets came up to the podium to briefly talk about the life of Lt. Colonel John McCrae and how the poppy became the symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died in war.  Three more cadets then took over and recited his most famous poem, In Flanders Fields.

            

Two cadets continued the ceremony by placing the corps wreathe in front of the podium.  Rangers and audience members then came up and placed five pictures of veterans of both world wars.  I think they were past friends & relatives.  I then sat at the piano again and played the song O God Our Help In Ages Past.  The verses were sung in English & Inuktitut.  Everyone remained standing for the playing of God Save the Queen and the closing prayer.  The Closing Remarks were done by Lt. Frank May, CD, (ret.), and Kataisee Attagutsiak.  The RCMP, Rangers, and cadets marched off, signalling the end of the ceremony.  The audience applauded.

            

Closing Remarks.

The cadets and Rangers came together after the parade for a quick group photograph with the decorated wreathe.  The cadets were then allowed to change out of their uniforms to help with the clean up.  This gave the community hall staff a break from cleaning.  When everything was done, the cadets were dismissed for the remainder of the day.  Frank helped me transport the keyboard, flags, wreathe, and leftover poppies to Inuujaq School.  The decorations would remain at the hall.  Before leaving the school, I quickly wrote a Thank-you-for-the-decorations message in the announcements binder for Tuesday.    

Cadets putting chairs away.