Residents cleared snow off of graves and placed poppies in remembrance of the veterans who served and defended our country during No Stone Left Alone (NSLA).
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The annual ceremony, held on Nov. 8 at the Lloydminster Cemetery, saw a large gathering with residents coming out to pay respects to those who served.
“This is our 11th ceremony and the No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation is celebrating their 15th year,” said Amy Hrynchuk, NSLA site organizer for Lloydminster. “Numbers are up again this year, which I love seeing the growth.” We (also) have three soldiers from Wainwright.”
Hrynchuk explained there’s 431 identified veterans in the Lloydminster Cemetery and the event aims to never forget those that paid the ultimate price.
The event kicked off with greetings and speeches. There was also a poem reading, a prayer of remembrance and two minutes of silence before poppies were placed on headstones around the cemetery.
Vince Scott, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39 past president, says remembering should be done more than once a year.
“It isn’t just one day, it’s every day,” he said. “There’s a lot of spaces that aren’t touched, graves that haven’t seen any family or anything for years. That’s our role, to make sure they’re not forgotten.”
For Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, the event is a reminder we shouldn’t take our freedoms for granted.
“It is really, really important to realize the freedoms we enjoy today are because of somebody’s sacrifices,” he said, noting members of his family, past and present, have served in the Canadian forces.
“Everybody that enjoys the freedoms each and every day, to go to school, to be able to go to work, to be able to worship wherever you wish and express your views, are the freedoms we get to enjoy. You wouldn’t have those freedoms if we were under a communist country or under a dictatorship.”
Remembrance Day is a day of importance for Aalbers.
“Being a first generation Canadian, my dad was raised during the Second World War,” he said. “My grandfather served in the First World War. I understand he lent support to the resistance in Holland in the Second World War. I don’t even know if the family fully was aware of that. “
Aalbers hopes the event continues to honour veterans.
“I just want to thank everyone that came out today and partook in this. This is so important and I truly hope that young people today will continue this for a very long time,” said Aalbers.
As for the Legion, they have an important milestone on the horizon.
“Come on down to the Legion. It’s easy to get in and next year, being the 100th anniversary, we’re not charging members for new members,” said Scott, noting anyone can be a member.
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