My name is Jenna Goldsack and this is my first year on the Executive team for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul youth group in London, Ontario. On the very cold day of Saturday November 10th, a few members of the SSVP Youth and their families took part in the annual “Last Post” event at Woodland Cemetery in London, Ontario where we remembered and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

While at Woodland Cemetery, we were given a special tour where we visited the graves of some Canadian soldiers who had died for our freedom. It was very fascinating when the tour guide mentioned to us that some of the soldiers’ gravesites did not have the body of the solider buried underneath. The reason for this could be that they were lost at sea, buried elsewhere, their body had not been located or that their family wanted their loved one to be “brought home”. The tour gave me a very big awakening as to how many people from our city alone sacrificed their lives for us so that we may have the freedom that we enjoy today.

After the hour-long tour, the members of the SSVP youth and their families got to work on cleaning the graves in the “Last Post” area of the cemetery. Some rakes, buckets of water, scrubbing brushes and lots of “elbow grease” were the tools we needed to refresh and renew the gravesites of the many men and women whose bravery and selflessness we honoured on that day. The gravesites in the Last Post area of the cemetery are those of veterans who passed away impoverished. The Government of Canada provides grants to the veteran or veteran’s family so they can have a funeral and burial site to recognize their time of service to our country. The Mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is “to serve Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy.” I believe that by cleaning the gravesites of these veterans, we not only honoured them for their service to our country, but we also helped to fulfill our Mission as a society.

I took part in this same event 3 years ago, but at that time, I did not realize exactly how much of an impact it had on the veterans who have passed, the veterans who are still alive and those still fighting for our country and how much it had an impact on myself. Although it was very cold on this day, and I could hardly feel my fingers and toes, it didn’t really seem to matter to me because I realized that these veterans gave so much more just so that I could be free. I was very thankful that I could take part in an event that had such a positive impact on myself and others.

At the beginning and end of each meeting and event as the SSVP Youth group, we join together in prayer. While gathered at the Last Post area on the day before the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of World War One, this prayer session seemed even more powerful and meaningful than usual. A member of the Executive team started off by saying the famous poem “In Flanders fields” by John McCrae. This was followed by a prayer for the current soldiers fighting in battle and for those who lost their lives. The words to these prayers really spoke to me about how thankful we should be to live in a wonderful country where we can be free. Thanks to the brave soldiers who fought for our freedom, we can have wonderful opportunities such as this one to serve those less fortunate than ourselves. We will remember them and all the sacrifices they have made for us.

Jenna Goldsack
Saint Louise de Marillac Youth Conference