The morning of the first No Stone Left Alone ceremony to honour Aldergrove veterans buried at Aberdeen Cemetery, Andrew Wilkie marked two more graves.
"We're always discovering more," he told The Star.
Wilkie headed the project to record unmarked graves for the Alder Grove Heritage Society (AGHS) after joining as a volunteer director last year. He was curious of their stories while cleaning the abandoned headstones.
"I’m very much interested in military history, because my family fought in World War I and II," he shared.
This year, the society joined the No Stone Left Alone program, a charity that aims to educate youth about Canada’s military history.
Through the program, the heritage society connected with Shortreed Community Elementary to host a Remembrance ceremony during Veterans' Week for Grade 5 students on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
"Aberdeen Cemetery is the final resting place for approximately 1,500 souls of all ages. Every person buried here has a story to tell, and it's those stories that weave together the fabric of our community," Wilkie said in his speech to the students.
During the World Wars, many Aldergrove residents enlisted in the army, navy, and air forces. Those that remained at home worked together to support the war effort, such as rationing supplies to purchasing victory bonds, and older men and young boys joined the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers to train in case British Columbia was invaded. And the BC Red Cross was supported by women's institutes.
The heritage society is currently researching a list of 250 veterans from Aldergrove to learn their stories, but 59 are confirmed at the Aberdeen Cemetery.
That number includes six graves without headstones of veterans John Francis Ferguson, Robert Topper, Austin Orwick, Herbert Henry, Chester Bruskey, and Frederick Monk.
In his speech, Wilkie mentioned the names and stories of some Aldergrove veterans who were killed overseas, including Dempster House, Jeffrey Eve, George Earl James, George Gerhard Sawatsky, and Harry Breyer.
He also gave special mention to James Owen, who went overseas with the 29th battalion and was awarded the military medal of honour for conspicuous gallantry on the night of Sept. 11, 1916.
Under heavy fire, Owen carried three wounded men from No Man's Land during the First World War.
"Here today, you have a great solemn opportunity to show thanks to those who risked and sacrificed their lives in the service of their country. It's up to you and future generations to come to remember them and their stories," Wilkie told the students.
Aldergrove legion member Shaun Francis, who is also the parade marshal for the Aldergrove Remembrance Day ceremony, said it's important to involve students with remembrance events.
"The more we impress on these young folks remembrance, and learning how and why it's important to remember our veterans and those that are no longer with us," Francis said.
In attendance for the ceremony were members of the Canadian Armed Forces, local veterans, members of the Aldergrove legion, a representative from the federal government, and Shortreed principal Chris Wejr.
Wilkie said they will hold the ceremony again next year.
