CDS Poppies Journey from King to Vimy Ridge
John Liggett shared a special story with Junior School students at this week’s Assembly about taking their Remembrance Day poppies on an incredible journey.
I want to take you back in time. This little journey back in time might make us sad, but it will also make us feel proud.
Our first journey back in time – is just a little way back to last week’s Remembrance Day ceremony. I know how I felt that day – always a little sad. But I also felt proud to be a Canadian, and most of all – proud of all of you.
Paying respect to our fallen soldiers is the most important thing to do on Remembrance Day.
This time we didn’t bring in little potatoes and drop them in one-by-one.
We dropped something else one-by-one – in front of a cake, that reflected all the missed birthdays that our fallen soldiers didn’t take part in with their families.
We dropped in poppies. And since there are more than 300 students in the Junior School – that was a lot of poppies.
Last March, I travelled with 40 CDS Senior School students to France and Belgium - to Flanders Fields - you know the place where poppies blow, between the crosses row on row.
Your poppies went into my backpack and onto a plane and went all the way to France. Once we got to France and Flanders Fields, we walked and walked and walked, with the poppies in my backpack the whole time, waiting for just the right place.
Our final journey back in time goes a long way back – to 100 years ago – to 1917 and a place where Canadians fought a brave and bloody battle at a place called Vimy Ridge. This is a place of tremendous honour for Canadians and a place of tremendous sacrifice for Canadians.
Here I felt I was getting warmer in finding the right place for your 300 Junior School poppies.
And then as we visited a Canadian War Cemetery at Vimy Ridge, I found the spot where your CDS poppies were meant to be – or, the spot found us.
As we stood in the cemetery listening to our guide, one of our students, Kitt Empey in Grade 11, turned around and found that she was standing right in front of her Great Grandfather’s grave.
So we got out our bag of poppies and we placed them in tribute to Kitt’s Great Grandfather, and all the brave men who fell alongside him on the that 9th day of April 1917 – 100 years ago.
We all shed some tears as we placed your poppies between the crosses row on row, one or two for each soldier, and a few extra for Kitt’s Great Grandfather.
Your poppies travelled a very long way and stood as a very fitting reminder of those that have fallen so long ago fighting for our freedom.
I am so proud of you Junior School, for the way you helped us remember them.
Back
Let’s go back in time again to Remembrance Day a year ago.
This time we didn’t bring in little potatoes and drop them in one-by-one.
We dropped something else one-by-one – in front of a cake, that reflected all the missed birthdays that our fallen soldiers didn’t take part in with their families.
We dropped in poppies. And since there are more than 300 students in the Junior School – that was a lot of poppies.
And as I saw them there, in a great big pile, I had an idea of what we might do with them. Mrs. Wildberger and Ms. Belch collected them all and stacked them neatly so they would all fit in a water proof case. And your 300 Junior School poppies went on an incredible journey.
Last March, I travelled with 40 CDS Senior School students to France and Belgium - to Flanders Fields - you know the place where poppies blow, between the crosses row on row.
Your poppies went into my backpack and onto a plane and went all the way to France. Once we got to France and Flanders Fields, we walked and walked and walked, with the poppies in my backpack the whole time, waiting for just the right place.
Our final journey back in time goes a long way back – to 100 years ago – to 1917 and a place where Canadians fought a brave and bloody battle at a place called Vimy Ridge. This is a place of tremendous honour for Canadians and a place of tremendous sacrifice for Canadians.
Here I felt I was getting warmer in finding the right place for your 300 Junior School poppies.
And then as we visited a Canadian War Cemetery at Vimy Ridge, I found the spot where your CDS poppies were meant to be – or, the spot found us.
As we stood in the cemetery listening to our guide, one of our students, Kitt Empey in Grade 11, turned around and found that she was standing right in front of her Great Grandfather’s grave.
So we got out our bag of poppies and we placed them in tribute to Kitt’s Great Grandfather, and all the brave men who fell alongside him on the that 9th day of April 1917 – 100 years ago.
We all shed some tears as we placed your poppies between the crosses row on row, one or two for each soldier, and a few extra for Kitt’s Great Grandfather.
Your poppies travelled a very long way and stood as a very fitting reminder of those that have fallen so long ago fighting for our freedom.
I am so proud of you Junior School, for the way you helped us remember them.
John Liggett
Head of School
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Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
