Remembrance Day 2021

The local army cadet corps was given permission to hold a Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 at the community hall.  The Hamlet Office restricted attendance to 100 people in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Preparations for the ceremony began in mid-October.  Several cadets volunteered to do specific tasks during the ceremony, such as, wreathe laying, reciting In Flanders Fields, and saying the Act of Remembrance.  The cadets were reminded to work on their uniforms and polish their boots. 

I recruited civilian volunteers to read selected Bible passages and Elders to do the opening & closing prayers.  Qapik Attagutsiak agreed to speak about her memories of aiding Canada during the Second World War. 

For the hymns Abide With Me and O God Our Help In Ages Past, I downloaded instrumental music off of YouTube, so there would be musical accompaniment for the audience.  I decided to take a break from playing piano at this year’s ceremony.

The cadets & I arrived at the community hall at 9:45am.  We helped the Hamlet staff set up chairs and tables.  The flags, programs, and school-made decorations were already there because I brought them the night before using Frank’s truck.  The corps had been allowed to hold a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, November 10.  The flags were placed in the correct spots and the decorations were taped to the walls of the hall.  Thank you, the students & teachers, of Inuujaq School for making the decorations!  I set a box of poppies out in the main foyer for guests.  Everything was ready to go by the time the doors opened for visitors. 

The ceremony began at 10:45am with an opening prayer from an Elder.  This was followed by my Welcome Address.  It was similar to my speech in 2019, but I changed, removed, and altered a few words & phrases.  Kataisee acted as Inuit translator.  She’s one of Qapik’s daughters and the one who took me ice chiseling in 2015.  Everyone stood for the playing of the national anthem after I finished my Welcome Address.

Everyone took their seats and two audience members came to the podium to read the first Bible passage in Inuktitut and English.  This was followed by the hymn Abide With Me.

Everyone remained standing for the Last Post, One Minute of Silence, Piper’s Lament, and Reveille.  I’ve mentioned before that this part of the ceremony is the most challenging for cadets because they have to stand at attention for six minutes.  Thankfully, we practiced several times with the music so they would know exactly how much time was left.  They made it through; no one passed out.

Everyone took their seats again and a senior cadet read the Act of Remembrance in English & Inuktitut.  Two audience members then read another Bible passage. 

Qapik Attagutsiak took centre stage and told everyone about how she and other Inuit helped Canada during the Second World War by collecting animal bones.   These bones were shipped down south to factories where they would be turned into munitions.  A lot of bones and carcasses were collected.  She and the Inuit were thanked and recognized by the federal government for their efforts.  Her daughter Kataisee translated the story into English. 

Qapik received further recognition in 2012 & 2020.  She was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and attended a ceremony in her honour in Gatineau, Quebec, organized by Parks Canada & the Canadian Armed Forces.  She is “the last known surviving member of the Inuit wartime efforts during World War II.”

Two cadets read prepared speeches about the significance of the poppy and the life of Lt. Col. John McCrae.  Three other cadets then continued the ceremony with the reading of McCrae’s most famous & recognizable poem, In Flanders Fields.  A cadet then placed a wreathe in front of the speaker’s podium.  An RCMP officer did the same.  Members of the public were also invited to lay wreathes of their own.

Everyone stood for the hymn O God Our Help In Ages Past, and God Save The Queen.  An Elder did a closing prayer and I closed the ceremony by thanking everyone for attending and participating in the ceremony.

The cadets, RCMP, and I posed for a group photograph.  I then gave them permission to change out of their uniforms and help the Hamlet staff clean up the hall.  While this was happening, I asked and was granted permission to have my picture taken with Qapik Attagutsiak.  I personally thanked her for attending and speaking at the ceremony.

I borrowed Frank’s truck to transport all the corps equipment to school.  Several cadets helped me put everything back.  I drove them home.  I enjoyed the rest of the day off.  The school is closed on Remembrance Day.

                                                                LEST WE FORGET.