Remembrance Day in Ottawa

By Christy Marsters

Stephanie Adams earned the respect of a national audience with her reasons to remember.

The Avon View student submitted an essay highlighting the importance of remembering Remembrance Day to the local Legion contest last year. The piece outshone competition to win local, provincial and national contest. “I didn’t know it would be that powerful,” Adams says, “but I was excited it was able to move this far forward. “I remember being really proud after reading the whole thing. People sacrificed so much, so our generation … our country is as lucky as it is.”

From November 9 to 12, Adams headsto Ontario to meet with national dignitaries, and tour Parliament and the Canadian War Museum. She will participate in the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.

Her words will also be posted for students across the country to view. “I’m proud this generation gets to see (my essay),” Adams says.

Her teacher Steven Van Zoost should also be recognized for his efforts to get students involved in this contest, Adams adds. “I wouldn’t have known about it if he hadn’t brought it up. I am really grateful he gave us this opportunity.”

Van Zoost says he is pleased to see an Avon View High School student’s writing succeed at a national level. “I suspect that Remembrance Day this year will be a heightened experience for Stephanie,” Van Zoost says. “Especially while she thinks about the importance of her voice in honouring veterans across our country.”

He says students’ pride in their work is heightened when there is an audience. “My initial thoughts after reading Stephanie’s essay was I’m impressed with how she, and many other young people, are becoming citizens with a social awareness; (they) see Canadian society within the context of globalization.” “I would like to think young people are increasingly grateful for their opportunities, privileges and responsibilities, as Canadian citizens,” Van Zoost adds. “With such a wide-spread distribution of (Adams’) work, I hope other young people see an important role in their voice on Remembrance Day and take part in commemorative ceremonies on Nov. 11.”

To read Adams’ essay, see www.stevenvanzoost.com or www.legion.ca/_PDF/Teachers/winners_2009.pdf