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During the build-up to Remembrance Day last week, communities in the Okanagan continued a recent tradition of participating in Canada’s “No Stone Left Alone” program.
Established in 2011 to recognize the sacrifice of Canadians who have lost their lives in the service of their country, No Stone Left Alone has developed into a national program to ensure that these soldier’s headstones have a poppy placed on them each year.
As the Okanagan’s reserve regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, the British Columbia Dragoons have participated in all of Canada’s major conflicts since the First World War, as well as domestic operations such as the B.C. fires of 2003 and 2017.
With over a hundred years of history in the valley, this year they again took the leading role with the No Stone Left Alone program by coordinating visits by soldiers, students, and teachers to the graves of local veterans in Kelowna, Vernon, and Penticton.
According to Sgt. Mark Peachey, who took part in this year’s program, No Stone Left Alone has become a great way for the younger generation to become more aware of what Remembrance Day stands for.
“At each ceremony, the students are addressed by serving members who give a small speech that honors our fallen,” he says. “They’re escorted by a serving member or a retired veteran and as they place a poppy on each headstone in recognition of the service of the fallen.”
In a moment of reflection, the student then steps back, says the name on the headstone, and all participants are asked to give a moment of thought to that individual’s service.
Thousands of Veterans are remembered each year across Canada through the No Stone Left Alone Foundation, and thousands of young students learn what it means to serve your country and make the ultimate sacrifice.
As for the British Columbia Dragoons, they will continue to support and participate in this program each year and to encourage all members and the community to get involved in remembering our fallen Veterans whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.
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