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King’s-Edgehill School Attends Remembrance Day 2021

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, Armistice Day, now known as Remembrance Day, was sunny but a tad bit chilly in the Town of Windsor. Attendance among the public was up despite COVID-19. The RCMP looked great in their distinctive red serge, and the local firefighters were turned out and standing professionally in their ranks. Members of the West Nova Scotia Regiment looked smart in their military uniforms, many with numerous NATO and United Nations medals on their chests. The Royal Canadian Legion members and the Veterans who will always ensure the flags are flown with pride hosted a memorable service at the cenotaph in Windsor.

In the Town of Hantsport, the 254 provided a flag party dressed in Highland kit proudly carrying the maple leaf and the provincial flag of Nova Scotia. They were commanded by Warrant Officer Gleb Proshkin ’22, and they were piped in by Master Corporal Chaz Faucher ‘26. My phone has been buzzing with compliments about their performance.

The largest group on parade was the student body from King’s-Edgehill School. Our School looked smart in their distinctive blue blazers for the boys and red blazers for the girls. Maya Faucher ‘22 marched the students down from the campus and directed them on parade. We were honoured this year with a number of requests to ensure a successful ceremony. Our School drumline, under the guidance of Mr DJ DeCoste, and the command of Emiliano Bonilla Martinez ’22 provided the music to march the Legion Members and the Veterans from the Branch to the parade grounds. What an honour! Sidney Schwartz ‘24 and Will Larder ‘26, looking resplendent in ceremonial Highland dress, laid wreaths on behalf of the Corps and King’s-Edgehill School. Our School brass band provided the music, giving wonderful renditions of O Canada and God Save the Queen. Our bugler HyunSeo Harrison Kim ’23 provided the ever-contemplative notes of the Last Post and then the rousing tune of Reveille. The Lament was nothing short of classic with the bagpiping skills of Sean Hurley ’23. Our School choir under the guidance of Ms Stephanie Fillman performed a wartime favourite Keep the Home Fires Burning and the haunting Newfoundland tune from the Ennis Sisters I Will Sing You Home. This last tune can really bring a tear to your eye and our ladies have beautiful voices. The high point for me was observing our students on parade. There was no fidgeting or talking or laughter. They looked straight to the front, showed the ultimate respect to the ceremony, and in my eyes earned the respect of all the serving and retired members. To say I was bursting with pride is surely an understatement.

Once the ceremony was completed downtown, our students marched back to campus where we held our own private ceremony at the KES cenotaph. We had a number of parents and friends of the School in attendance. The choir performed once again making the songs even more powerful. Our Head Boy Will Ahern ‘22 gave The Act of Remembrance, Gabby Strickey ‘22, our Head Girl read the poem A Canadian Moment, and our own Charlie Brinston-Conway ‘23 recited the great Canadian poem “In Flanders Fields. Our Headmaster, Joe Seagram read the honour roll and our Corps Chaplain Reverend David Curry gave a beautiful benediction and bestowed his blessing upon the Corps. We laid our poppies, marched off the colours and brought another Remembrance Day to a close. What a great day to be a member of the King’s-Edgehill School family.

Major Keith Hynes
Commanding Officer
254 KES Cadet Corps
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King’s-Edgehill School is located in Mi'kma'ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq People.