BayToday Picture Play Gallery: Lest We Forget

Sasha-Lee Battrick's art work captures the nasty business of war.

The local office for Veterans Affairs Canada paid homage to the sacrifices and achievements of those who served Canada this week by hosting a number of events during Veteran’s Week including the 5th annual high school art competition.

The art competition was open to all local high schools with students from St. Joseph-Scollard Hall and Chippewa Secondary answering the call and submitting pieces depicting what war means to them.

Without fail the students’ showed great depth evoking strong emotions, and again the office staff was so impressed that they didn’t look forward to ranking the pieces in order, however, for the veterans who visited the office this week they truly felt the piece by Sasha-Lee Battrick captured the nasty business of war.

Joelle Gibson, Veterans’ Week Committee member, says it is critical that the stories of World War I, World War II, and Korea must be shared in order to preserve and honour what the veterans endured in order for Canadians live in a free society.

Dwight Floyd the Client Service Team Manager at Veteran Affairs agrees that we need to continue to preserve the memories and sacrifices of the man who made the ultimate sacrifice all in the name of freedom.

“First and foremost this week is about remembrance, recognition, appreciation for those still serving and those who served before them.”

“Especially now when young people are seeing loss of life and limb on the news ... I think we are seeing a re-remembrance of what the vets went through. And I think it’s great that the art work came from more than just one school ... it is extremely touching,” he said.

The annual Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held at Memorial Gardens Sunday morning, with Veteran's Week concluding with a ceremonial puck drop during the Skyhawk's game at Memorial Gardens at 7:00 p.m.