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Army cadets honour fallen soldiers with silent vigil By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 5 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, November 12, 2009 · www.oakvillebeaver.com They stand like statues at the foot of the cenotaph in George's Square guarding the memorial as the hours tick down to Remembrance Day. Heads bowed solemnly, rifles pointing to the ground, the two sentries endure the evening's bitter chill, silently trying in some small way to honour the sacrifice of those who have come before them. The vigil, which lasted from 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 11, was the first to be conducted by members of the 1188 Lorne Scots Army Cadets. Throughout the night, pairs of the teenage cadets, clad in their blue uniforms and bearing poppies over their hearts, stood watch over the cenotaph for 30-minute shifts before being relieved by their colleagues. Those instructing the cadets are hoping the experience will give them a far greater appreciation for those who have fought and died for Canada and those who continue to do so. "These cadets are standing at the cenotaph guarding in respect of all the fallen soldiers, airmen, naval personnel and all the currently serving members of the Canadian Forces abroad and here in Canada, as well," said Lieutenant John Stapleford, who serves as an instructor for the cadets. "What we want to show them is that as uncomfortable as it can be for the half hour they're up there, this doesn't even compare the sacrifices and the things soldiers went through in past conflicts." While Stapleford noted the a display that would suggest the eyes of all the world were upon them. Stapleford pointed out that the changing of the guard ceremony is done in such a way that the cenotaph is never empty. Two cadets assuming their solemn positions just as the previous two cadets depart. "It was good, not to say it was exciting, but it is good to recognize what those men did," said Master Corporal Nathan McCabe, 14, following his first stint guarding the cenotaph. "We're just doing our part and showing how we can respect them." These sentiments were echoed by Warrant Officer Chris Dachuk, 16, who also pointed out he and McCabe would probably go through two more guard rotations before participating in the Nov. 11 Remembrance Day ceremony. "The cenotaph marks all the veterans who fought in the great wars," said Dachuk. "It is important for us to be out here, so we can show we actually know and remember what happened." ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SILENT VIGIL: Warrant Officer Chris Cachuk of the Lorne Scots Army Cadets, stands silently at his post at the Cenotaph at George's Square on Trafalgar Road. At the base of the Cenotaph are pictures of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. vigil would have gone ahead in rain or intense cold, neither of these extremes transpired Tuesday. The vigil took place under a relatively clear and starlit sky. Stapleford said raincoats and warm clothing were on standby, if needed. While the cenotaph itself drew fourth images of the First World War battlefields of Ypres and the Somme, pictures of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, laid at the base of the cenotaph by the cadets, made it clear that war is not confined to the past and the pain felt when a soldier is lost has not diminished with the passing of time. With the tolling of the half hour, two new cadets could be seen marching toward the cenotaph to relieve their friends. Despite there being no audience present, the cadets snapped to attention and assumed their new positions in Creating sensational smiles in Oakville for 15 years. NEW!