Students, teachers, and distinguished guests were all on hand at Sunningdale Elementary school on Thursday for their annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Veterans in attendance were noticeably moved as Grade 8 students lead the service showing landmarks, tombstones, and buildings around Moose Jaw that are all linked to World War 1 and 2.

Principal, Steve Michaluk, explained the reason he let the students lead the service, rather than the teachers.

A number of displays were set up in the hallways throughout the school

“Our main focus is to have it for the students, it's their service and we want them to be involved as much as possible. We have some nice songs, we had some Grade 8’s that were brave and willing to do some research. We went around town and we wanted to teach people about some places around Moose Jaw that are important, significant points of interest, some that they might even be living beside”.

Cole Tressel, a Grade 8 student who helped lead the ceremony, was tasked with researching Lt.-Col. David V Currie, a Moose Jaw resident who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in France during World War 2.

“We learned about how the soldiers fought in both the world wars. We got to read the plaques and engravings on gravestones”.

The schools front walkway was also lined with 158 Canadian flags to represent the 158 Canadian lives lost in Afghanistan.

“We want to do our part to teach our students that this day is important and not just this day, but what a special country we live in," explained Michaluk. "A small token we can do is for our school to look the part, to prepare the service, and to just have kids be aware. We hope we are meeting that goal”.

The citywide Remembrance Day service will be held on Sunday with all residents asked to be seated by 10:30 am at Mosaic Place.