Students at Chatham-Kent Secondary School (CKSS) spent the day honouring fallen soldiers at a special Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday.
Sara Tetrault, who is a student at CKSS, was one of school's master of ceremonies for the event. She says she has taken a leadership role in the ceremonies for the past two years.
"My dad is a police officer and I've always thought it's super important to pay tribute to those who have fought for this country and to have freedom and rights within it. I thought it was super important to step up and play a role in it," explains Tetrault.
Tetrault says she will be attending a Remembrance Day ceremony on Saturday as well.
"I think if you are a student, make sure you step up, make sure you're wearing poppies, and make sure you're attending kind of these ceremonies, because it's super important to show how thankful we are for the country we live in," explains Tetrault.
Stephanie Figueiredo was also a master of ceremonies for the day.
"I've actually had a lot of family that were veterans and soldiers in World War 2, as well as past wars up in Europe. It's always been held near and dear to me. The more I learned about it in school, the more interested I was in it," she says.
Figueiredo says it is important for students to connect with history in the community.
"You're in history class and you learn these things from a text book, but the moment that you start acting and doing things in the community about them, it becomes very personal" she says.
Stan Sharpe, who is a history teacher and librarian at CKSS, says veterans were young people once too and it is important for students to relate to them.
"It's a big part of the tradition and the culture of the school. This was our 31st annual Remembrance Day ceremony in honouring the CKSS vets and local guys that were killed in action. It's a big part of our community involvement," says Sharpe.
Sharpe says all Canadians should learn more about the country's history.
"I take my students to Europe every two years to visit these battle fields and grave sites. It's vitally important as Canadians that we not forget. I don't even think it should even be a Remembrance Day. I think we should remember every day of the year," he says.