Commemorating D-Day at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
Commemorating D-Day at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
In early June 2024, Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London took their regular school trip to Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary commemoration of D-Day, a pivotal battle in World War II. The school has a relationship with the Parkwood Institute that allows their students to volunteer for St. Joseph’s Veterans Care Program (VCP) . Students who take this opportunity build relationships with the residents at the VCP, most of whom served in World War II and/or the Korean War, while also learning more about Canada’s military history.
“We made poppies with the veterans at Parkwood, then took the poppies with us to Normandy and placed them on the graves of the Canadian soldiers. After we got back, we were able to go back to Parkwood and show the veterans photos of the trip and talk to them about our experiences,” said Declan Nolan, a twelfth-grade student who, as a navy reserve, saw this as a valuable opportunity to help his community and hear from people who’ve served their country before him.
Photos: Declan Nolan with Jim Fulton, a veteran in the Veteran’s Care Program at the Parkwood Institute, and their poppy laid at the grave of Private W. J. Nolan, who was killed on July 4, 1944, aged 19.
In the build up to the 2024 trip to Normandy, Declan contacted London Community Foundation with a request for some funds that would allow the group to make wooden markers for some of the graves, and to buy t-shirts for the group with, amongst other things, the Canadian Flag on them.
As part of their schoolwork, the group researched individual Canadian soldiers who fought during WWII, so they could place the markers on their graves in the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. “Our research made the experience more meaningful because we got to learn who this person was a bit and where they came from. It was really touching,” Declan said.
During the commemorations, their T-shirts caught the attention of Prime Minister Trudeau, who spent some time talking with the group and taking some photos after giving his speech.
Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
Students from Sir Frederick Banting School with Prime Minister Trudeau
“We were trying to get his attention the entire time, but then right before he got into his car, he saw us and came over to talk to us. He complimented us on the shirts and shook our hands and we got to take photos with him,” Declan said.
As Remembrance Day approaches and we spend more time thinking about the sacrifices made by all veterans, we’re also thankful for the work done by St. Joseph’s Veterans Care Program, and to the veterans there for continuing to pass down their knowledge and share their experiences with young people like Declan.