November 17, 2024. On November 6, 2024, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island were present for Remembrance Services at three schools: Somerset Consolidated in Kinkora, Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, and Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton.
…. Remembrance Service at Somerset Consolidated School….
The day of school visits began in the morning in Kinkora, at the Somerset Consolidated School. As this is traditionally the first school visited each year, a group photo is always taken outside the school with all of the Legion members who participated.
2024 photo taken at the school’s entrance. Left to right: Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, George Palmer, Danny Bernard, Pieter Valkenburg, Kathy Henry, Dawn Gradwell, Arthur Ranahan, Trish Taylor, Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
School officials were careful to verify the Order of Service and to note down the names of all of the Legion members present. The names were read out during the service, a mark of respect that all appreciated.
The Order of Service was verified with Vice-Principal Ryan Casey. Left to right: Kathy Henry, Mario Henry, Arthur Ranahan, Ryan Casey, Pieter Valkenburg. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Two cadets who are students at the school participated in the Remembrance Service.
Two cadets from the school participated in the service. Left to right: Amelia MacCausland (RCSCC Sea Cadets Summerside), Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Thomas Palmer (PEI Regt 17th Recce Army Cadets). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The flag bearers for the colour parade carried the Canadian flag and the Borden-Carleton Branch Legion flag.
This year’s flag bearers were: Arthur Ranahan (left) and Danny Bernard (right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…. Remembrance Service at Kinkora Regional High School….
Following the service at Somerset Consolidated School, the Legion members made their way to Kinkora Regional High School, which is also in Kinkora. School officials let Pieter know that students from the school will be visiting the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands in May 2025. We’re aware of 8 Islanders buried in the cemetery, whose graves hopefully will be visited by the students.
Pieter (centre) flanked by Principal Ryan McAleer (left) and Vice Principal Matt Killeen. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Two cadets who are students at the school participated in the Remembrance Service.
Parade participants, left to right: Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Danny Bernard, Maika MacLean and Lucas Somers (both with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, RCSCC Summerside), Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Students at the school annually offer a light lunch to the Legion members after the Remembrance Service is concluded, a gesture that is much appreciated. This year, we were offered chile or corn chowder, as well as an assortment of squares and cookies, plus coffee or tea. All the food was prepared by students, and Legion members unanimously agreed that both luncheon choices were delicious!
Following the Remembrance Service at Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were invited for a delicious lunch of either corn chowder or chile, prepared by students. Left to right: Dawn Gradwell, Mario Henry, Kathy Henry, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…. Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School….
In the afternoon, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were present for a Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton. At this school, the two cadets from the school were siblings.
Parade participants, left to right: Danny Bernard, Arthur Ranahan, Kaden MacPhee (PEI Regt 17th Recce), Alex MacPhee (cadet with PEI Regt 17th Recce), Pieter Valkenburg, Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Amherst Cove Consolidated was the only school on the tour this year that had a band…. and my goodness, were these students good! As someone who played in a Youth Orchestra myself as a child, I could only marvel at how well the students played. The students and their Band Director, Grainne Howman, are to be commended! It was a pleasure to listen to them.
The school band, under the direction of Band Director Grainne Howman, was inspirational. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
After the Remembrance Service, Principal Paul Quinlan and Vice-Principal Evan Killorn posed with two veterans from the Borden-Carleton Legion, George Palmer and Pieter. Both men were born before D-day and both served in the Air Force – Pieter in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and George in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Vice Principal Evan Killorn (far left) and Principal Paul Quinlan (3rd from left) with two veterans from Borden-Carleton Legion – Pieter Valkenburg (2nd from left) and George Palmer (far right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Listening to the children at each school with their various programs of Remembrance – and the respect they showed to the members present from the Legion – offered hope that the next generations may be less selfish and filled with distrust towards others.
Thank you to the officials and students at all three schools for the work they put into the Remembrance Services. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!
If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.
© Daria Valkenburg
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On The War Memorial Trail Research Project........ with Pieter and Daria Valkenburg 