Remembrance Day Moments

School's In: Remembrance Day Feature

Corporal Winston Dottin and
School's In Podcast Host Dylan Keenan

For this week's School's In Podcast, Host Dylan Keenan interviews Corporal Winston Dottin who served in the Canadian Military. Corporal Dottin speaks about his experiences in the military and provides advice for young people considering a military life. He also discusses the importance of Remembrance Day and the most memorable Remembrance Day Ceremony he has attended.

Photo by Maria Williston

Blackville School Holds Remembrance Day Ceremony

Elementary Choir singing
"Why Do We Have Remembrance Day"

The Blackville school hosted the annual Remembrance day ceremony in the gym on Tuesday, November 10.

Students from K-12 participated in the event with many of them dressing in red and wearing a poppy on their chest.

The Blackville School Girls Choir opened the ceremony by singing “O Canada”. The students, staff and special guests were welcomed by Bree Hallihan and Chase Connors. The opening prayer was done by Father Laskey, followed by “Amazing Grace” sung by The Blackville School Girls Choir.

Readers were Calvin Keenan and Jules Keenan.

The assembly also heard performances from the Elementary Choir “Why Do We Have Remembrance Day?” followed by “Musical Memories from the World War” from the Blackville School Jazz Band and Grade 9T Class Band.

The ceremony ended with the wreath laying and the Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence and a closing and thank you from students Jayda MacDonald and Braden Burke.

A reception for the special guests was held following the ceremony. It was hosted by the High School Culinary class.

For more photos from the event, click here. 

Article by Amelia Underhill

Photos by Cassidy Jay and Jules Keenan

Remembrance Day Colouring Contest 2014

Remembrance Day Ceremony at Blackville School

Mersereau: We can't stray from honouring the past

A piece of the Berlin Wall that belongs to Mersereau

This past week I had the privilege of interviewing former army communications officer and Blackville native Warrant Officer Troy Mersereau. Son of Vera and Burton Mersereau and brother of elementary school teacher Twila Sturgeon.

Mersereau graduated from Blackville in 1986 alongside Blackville School's principal Rodney Buggie. He spent his youth in Blackville playing hockey and as a member of the Blackville Air Cadet squadron. He joined the army branch of the Canadian military in 1987 after working in Fredericton for a short while, trying to find his place in life.

Memorabilia from Mersereau's military career

Troy had a long and rewarding military career, having been stationed in numerous locations in Canada, including Petawawa and Kingston, Ontario and Edmonton, Alberta; he also was stationed in numerous places overseas including Germany, Syria, Israel and three tours in Bosnia. Some of the answers that are given in the interview below are paraphrased and are not direct quotes.

Q: Why did you join the military? What would recommend the military as a career path to a graduate of today?

A: The military was always an interest to me, it offered security, and a trade without taking the more typical route through university. I would recommend the military to a graduate of today; it presents numerous opportunities that are often unheard of in the civilian world. It's a totally different experience, and if you're looking for an adventure that is never a dull moment, then the military is the right fit for you.

United Nations Memorabilia 

Q:Would you change anything about the path you choose if you could do it over again?

A: Not at all. I went in with a good attitude and made the best of what it was. There were some times when it sucked beyond belief, but if you have a good attitude and make the most of the situation, it is not as bad as it seems, those are the times when memories are made.

Q: Next week we are celebrating Remembrance Day and as a teenager and a student, I know what it means to me, but as a member of the military, what does it mean to you? And the military in general?

Vimy Barrack memorial

A: To me it's really just a time to reflect on friendships and experiences that I had in the Canadian Forces. As for the military in general, it is held as a sacred day; it is often a tough day as well, remembering lost friends and just lost service members in general.

Q: What is the most memorable Remembrance Day ceremony you have participated in and why?

A: In grade 11, I actually laid a wreath at Blackville School as an air cadet, and I can still remember that ceremony distinctively. However, no matter where the ceremony is held - either here in Blackville or in Bosnia - they are just as important, and I remember them all.  

More military memorabilia 

Q: Is there any part of the Remembrance Day ceremony performed by the military that is different than one that civilians put on, for example like the one in Blackville? What part of the ceremony is the most special to you?

A: Ceremonies everywhere that are held, by either military or civilians, are very similar everywhere. They all take a moment to remember all the service members that are no longer with us. There is no part that is special to me, because the whole ceremony is special just like the day.

Q: This summer I had the opportunity to visit Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge and the Passchendale Battlefields do these places have any specific value to you? And what value do they have to the military as a whole?

Warrant Officer Mersereau at the
Blackville Remembrance Day Ceremony

A: I was stationed at the Vimy Barracks in Kingston for a period of time. Everything that we did in Kingston was tied back to Vimy Ridge; we would get talks about the men like Sir Arthur Currie and how we should strive to be that type of leader. To the military as a whole, Vimy Ridge was the first victory that Canada won by ourselves. We had no help; it was only Canadian boys on the battlefield that day for the Allies. Even though we were under British control, the Canadian military and really the country of Canada found its identity in that battle. Now Vimy is a massive glorified monument and we talk about it as a glorious battle and treasured spot in Canadian history, but to the men that actually fought the battle it was basically a place to go and die. It was not all bells and whistles, there was no glory in 1917.

Q: When we consider the recent attacks and deaths in Canada that have targeted our military what role do you think these recent actions have when it comes to the impact of why Remembrance Day is vital and important in the 21st century?

A: Concerning Remembrance Day I think that it will be a little more difficult in the areas that were affected by these attacks; however from a security perspective it will generate a lot more concerns that we have never really had to face before in Canada.

Q: Speaking as a former member of the military, what would you want today's youth to know about Remembrance day?

A: Remembrance Day has a very important place in Canadian society, and if we stray away from having ceremonies and honouring our past and present military service members then it will be very hard to get back to it.

It was truly an honour interviewing Mr. Mersereau. The stories that he had were truly incredible and I could sit and listen to him tell them all day. Every student and staff member thanks Mr. Mersereau for his service and thanks every former and present service member for there service as well. Without these brave men and women, we would not have the freedom and privileges that we have today and we must keep Remembrance Day a prominent day in our society in order to pay our respects and honour our military service members. Lest We Forget.

by Graham Manderville

Opinion: Remembrance Day

Every year on November 11 we remember those who fought for our country. We respect those who are still here with us today and also those who sacrificed their lives for us and this country. A country they loved and believed in so much, they fought to defend its values.

Here at Blackville School every year around Remembrance Day we always hold a service that takes place in the gym.  The ceremony features our choirs, band, readings from students between K to 12. It also includes  the wreath laying which includes each person from each grade to lay a wreath in remembrance of our soldiers that fought in the world wars. The wreath laying also includes members from our community, such as the local legion and the wreath is laid in memory of fallen soldiers. 

To show respect for our soldiers most people wear a poppy on our left sides over our hearts. This year it was noticed that more Canadians are wearing poppies which, in part, could be because of two soldiers who were recently killed here in Canada.  

Below are some thoughts from students who  went on a trip to Europe in June 2014. While they were there they got to visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France that is dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers killed during the First World War. 

By Ashton O'Donnell 

I always held Remembrance Day in high regard, in my opinion it is one of the most important days in the calendar year. It's a time when we remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives  in order so that we could live in a free country.

High School students from Blackville School at Arc de Triumph 

This summer I got the opportunity to visit Juno Beach, Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge while on a trip to Europe. All of these locations are very prominent in Canadian History. Juno Beach was the Canadian designated beach in the D-Day landings, Passchendaele was a World War I battle that claimed over 15,000 Canadian lives, and of course Vimy Ridge was the first victory that the Canadian military got on its own.

Visiting these locations really made me realize just how much these men who fought during the first and second World Wars sacrificed to preserve our countries freedom. While at Vimy Ridge, we got to tour some of the underground tunnels which served as a home to many of the Canadian troops leading up to the actual attack on Vimy. I could not even imagine spending more than an hour in these tunnels, even the shortest person in our group had to duck sometimes to walk through doors or down hallways. Seeing these living condition and hearing the tour guide talk about how inhospitable these tunnels were in 1917 really opened my eyes to the sacrifices that these men made.

We visited many Canadian cemeteries as well on our trip through western Europe. The cemetery that really made me realize how lucky and proud I am to be Canadian was one of the Normandy cemeteries. Walking down the rows of graves and seeing the ages of some of the men that participated in the D-Day landings was incredible.

 I stumbled upon a headstone with the age 17 written on it and was dumbfounded for words. Our lives were so different. I wake up every morning knowing what the day will hold, and I know that I will wake up the next morning. However, this boy woke up not knowing what the day was going to hold, and praying that he lived long enough to wake up the next day.

Touring Vimy, Passchendaele, Juno Beach and all the surrounding cemeteries has given me stronger and deeper feeling of thankfulness for our veterans that served during WWI and II, Korea, Bosnia, the Middle East and really anywhere that the Canadian military has been. Because without their service, I know that I would not have the life that I have today. My trip to Europe has given me a better understanding of what these men went through and this in turn has increased my standing on Remembrance Day and its importance in our society.

By: Graham Manderville

Remembrance Day is a day every year where citizens across Canada join together to commemorate the brave acts of the soldiers who fought for our freedom.  Remembrance day has always been an important day to my family and me, because I've had many relatives who have fought over seas in certain conflicts.

It is a day when we extend our thanks to those who were lost in order to live the great lives that we all have today. This past summer I had the amazing opportunity of taking part in a Canadian Battlefield tour across Europe. We went to very well-known battlefields, cemeteries, and landmarks that were once populated with Canadian soldiers in conflict.

 It was a very touching experience knowing that soldiers have lost their lives right on the ground I was standing on. I had moments where I was proud because of the bravery that past Canadian soldiers had, but I also had moments of sadness when I realized how many young lives were lost. I was fortunate enough to visit Juno Beach, Passchendaele, Vimy region, Normandy region, and countless other well-known war-time landmarks.

My personal favourite part of the experience was the Vimy Ridge memorial. It was breathtakingly large and beautiful. I didn't realize the true size of the landmark until I was standing directly under its shadow. I was in awe for the most part of the trip because of the beautiful European scenery, and the Canadian history that surrounded me for the whole trip.

I consider myself tremendously lucky for being able to travel across the world to see a place that is held so high in Canadian regard. Many people dream of seeing some of the landmarks I visited. My trip to Europe made me appreciate remembrance day more, and I have a better respect for Canadian gains, and also, much more respect for the losses. I will always look back on the amazing trip that I was part of. 

By Noah Hallihan

Colouring Contest Winners (November)

Blackville School Remembrance Day Ceremony (November 08, 2013)

Viewpoint: Remembrance Day

School's In: Remembrance Day

Hosts Candace Purcell and Kyla Coughlan share two poems for the Remembrance Day edition. Check out the podcast below.