By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Generations of students have entered their poems, artwork and essays in the Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day contest, but Branch 133 Youth Education Chair Judy Elliott can’t recall a local entry that made it all the way to national level.
Not until Declan and Reagan Matthews of Notre Dame Elementary School at least.
The brother and sister both wrote poems for the contest back in November. Both poems won at branch, zone, district and provincial levels for their respective age groups. At an assembly at their school this week, Elliott made a presentation to both – with an extra certificate for Reagan, whose poem placed third at national level.
“I’m very proud – they did great,” stated Elliott – who submitted her own Remembrance Day contest entries back in her student days.
“This is the best results we’ve seen in years.”
Interviewed after the presentation, both students mentioned the inspiration behind their work.
“I got inspired because of the people that fought in World War II,” 11-year-old Grade 5 student Declan said.
“I’m just happy my poem got so far, so I could spread the word of the fallen in the war.”
Their parents Scott and Amanda Matthews have given them special gifts and insights that added power to the poems.
“For a long time, I have been interested in the war, and my great-grandpa actually fought in it,” 13-year-old Grade 8 student Reagan added.
“My papa has given me his diaries from the war, and some of that inspired me,” she added.
She spoke of the sacrifice and bloodshed she read of in these historical documents, and turning them into imagery “so people would actually know the extent of what actually happened in the war.”
Declan chose poetry to share his thoughts “because it’s short, but you can really express yourself in poetry.”
While Reagan loves expressing herself in artistic form, she also likes literature and finds poetry is “straight to the point.
“I’m actually really interested in it. During COVID-19, my mom taught me a lot about poetry, and she actually does writing.”
She polished her poem with a mind toward the Legion’s requests – strong imagery and mention of Canada. She sees the results as a story her great-grandpa might have told to his grandson.
The winning reception her poem found has inspired her to try again in next November’s Remembrance Day contest,
“I feel like it’s made a change in people’s lives, and the people I have read it to – they said it actually put the war in perspective for them,” she said.
Remembrance Day Pride
by Declan Matthews
What is Remembrance Day to me
As a a ten year old boy who is free
It is bombs, bullets and bodies all around
It is soldiers who were never found
It is so many kids who lost their dad
Who woke up every day after very sad
It is the women who sacrificed and worked hard
Who watched over their children and stood guard
It is the loss of so many lives
So we could live, so we could thrive
It is veterans, poppies and grave markers
Sacrifices to bring light so it wouldn’t get darker
On November 11th we all come to show pride
So we can remember and give thanks to those who died
Their Sacrifice Our Freedom
by Reagan Matthews
The bombs blasted with an eerie orange glow
Illuminating the sky, piercing the darkness below
The whizzing of bullets blazing past my ear
Compelled me to scream and crouch down in fear
For my country, for Canada, I have to be brave
For the allied world, I will squelch my featrs and save
The darkness enveloped the trenches in the late hours of night
This war is demanding but I will continue to fight
I jump to my feet and race through the debris
Knowing I would face the enemy
The allies around me held their rifles as they roared
I adjusted my firearm as the bullets soared
I knelt down behind a grove of trees
Pointed my rifle at someone my age and began to pray on my knees
My finger squeezed the trigger so fast
He falls to the ground lifeless and I know he won’t be the last
This story I heard from Great Grandpa every year
Never once did he shed a tear
Veterans like him should be respected every day
During war he never wanted to hesitate or disobey
People sacrificed their lives so we could be free
So we wouldn’t reside in a country we would be forced to flee
I think of Vimy Ridge, Normandy, and Afghanistan
And so many other wars our solders could withstand
Their selflessness and determination brought Canada pride
Our veterans wisdom can be our guide
Our guide for the youth in Canada’s time ahead
So we can teach the generations to come to remember the fallen bloodshed
On November 11th we stand in recollection
We acknowledge their sacrifice to lead our country in the right direction
We honor our soldiers sacrifice and sweat
So on this day, lest we forget
