A recent ceremony at Fraser Cemetery included some powerful moments of reflection for more than 100 community members in attendance.
When the second annual No Stone Left Alone poppy ceremony took place in the military section of Fraser Cemetery on Nov. 5, attendees placed poppies on military gravestones in recognition of the sacrifices that fallen soldiers and veterans have made serving Canada.
“With over 110 students from Richard McBride Elementary joining members of The Royal Westminster Regiment, our cadets, participants from various community groups and individual citizens, poppies were placed on 450 military graves in Fraser Cemetery to honour our fallen and veterans,” said Karen Baker-MacGrotty, honorary colonel of The Royal Westminster Regiment and chair of the No Stone Left Alone New Westminster. “Students stood at the headstone, studied the inscription on the stone, placed a poppy, read the name aloud then took a moment to reflect and say thank you for their service and sacrifice. This simple act of remembrance has a profound impact on our youth. I believe every time participants pass by the cemetery, they will remember.”
No Stone Left Alone ceremonies, which take place across Canada every November, saw over 8,000 students place more than 50,000 poppies on veterans’ graves at 101 locations in 2017.
“Seeing so many children at this year’s ceremony was very moving,” Baker-MacGrotty said in an email to the Record. “We are planning to grow the No Stone Left Alone initiative next year with additional classes and schools.”
Photos contributed/Lance Murdoch
