Just before 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, the flags were lowered on Library Road with the sound of “The Last Post” ringing out, as around 200 students, staff and faculty members gathered to pay their respects on Remembrance Day at Carleton.
Beginning with a land acknowledgement, the ceremony lasted about 20 minutes.
Sarina Cella, a second-year social work student, said she wasn’t aware Carleton was having a Remembrance Day ceremony until the day of, when her teaching assistant allowed for students to be excused if they were interested in watching the ceremony.
“I think it’s really important that we pay this tribute, especially on campus,” Cella said. “It shows that we as students all respect what was fought for us and that we have the right to go to school.”
Cella said having a smaller event was sufficient.
“It’s such a solemn event,” she said. “Making a huge event out of it is not paying true respect, it’s more of adhering to the crowd.”
“I believe having a nice ceremony right by the flag to symbolize our country is the perfect way to do it.”
In a speech, Brittany Basten, community liaison officer for Campus Security Services, highlighted Carleton’s connection with veterans.
“Founded in 1942 at the height of the Second World War under the name of Carleton College, this school educated veterans returning home from war,” she said, adding that the connection is strong to this day.
“Many students, staff and faculty are currently serving as Canadian Forces members or reservists or they are retired military members.”
Bethany McDonnell, a first-year psychology student and a piper for the Glengarry Pipe Band, was invited to perform a rendition of “Amazing Grace” on her bagpipes at the ceremony.
“I feel really proud, because I have a lot of family who were soldiers and a lot of family who were pipers, so it kind of makes me feel like I’m carrying on a tradition,” she said.
During the ceremony, members of the Carleton community placed wreaths dedicated to Carleton students, staff, faculty and Indigenous veterans.
Aiyana Louis, a first-year environmental science student, sang a traditional drum song during the ceremony, which she dedicated to Indigenous veterans.
“It means a lot personally because my grandfather served as a medic,” Louis said. “Just knowing his experiences, and seeing so many other veterans who he knows, especially Indigenous veterans, it’s heartwarming.”
Louis said recognizing Indigenous veterans is an important part of Remembrance Day and “shows how far we’ve come.”
“There has been a lot of separation between Canada and with its Indigenous people and it’s important to reconstruct those ties that we had way in the beginning,” she said. “Just overall, to make a stronger bond socially, politically and in general creating a stronger bond in Canada between people of different nations.”
Involving students in Remembrance Day ceremonies is important to teach them about an event that shaped the country, said Louis.
“We’re all busy with classes and everything and its important to get that one moment out of the day to really remember why we’re here,” she said.
Having an event on-campus also makes it easier for students to pay their respects in their own way, said Arianna Fuke, a first-year global and international studies student.
“It’s nice to have it in a place so central where people can just go by and not necessarily have to stay for the whole thing but just be able to see it,” Fuke said. “Not only is it recognizing the veterans, it feels like a community event and can bring a lot of people together.”
Featured image by Jillian Piper.
