Remembrance & Generations

On Thursday, we held our annual Remembrance Day Chapel services, which were both poignant and lovely. (There are videos of the services included in the selection on the right side of my blog page.) Much of the impact was due to the elements of the services – music, lessons, the reading the Honour Roles, and the laying of memorial wreaths – and how they were delivered by students and faculty.

I was particularly delighted about two specific parts of the service. First was the address by Curran Egan ’08, who in addition to doing graduate work in military history and serving on the Appleby Alumni Board, is a 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Canada. Curran did a wonderful job talking about the act of remembrance, including the nature of our military history as well as the reality and tragedy of war. He also did an uncommonly good job in linking our acts of remembrance to the lives of students today, including how young men and women can honour the legacy of previous generation through their own non-military actions. I think Curran struck the perfect balance between asking his audience to appreciate the past, and asking them to allow it to inform their futures. He also made his point in a way that translated into the diversity of the Appleby student body of 2012.

The other aspect related to the second service when it was our privilege to host, in addition to Curran, three alumni veterans: Don Benson ’52 who served as a Lieutenant in the 48th Highlanders of Canada; Tom Holden ’41, who served in the RCNVR as a Lieutenant (N) on HMCS Gananoque on active service in the Atlantic, and Bill Joyce ’34 (also a long-serving Appleby faculty member) who was on active service in Europe with the Fort Garry Horse as well as in Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s Headquarters. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with a DSO. (There are also some photos of these guests in the slideshow on the ride side of the blog.)

There are times when alumni and students come together and there is a magic of interaction, which electrifies the community. For me, that was the case on Thursday. Not only were students humbled and fascinated to see men who were part of history, but I could also tell that there was a deep appreciation to be in the presence of those who answered a far more dangerous call of service to society than we will ever face. We all wonder how we will react to moments that require courage.

There are times when adults lament about lack of values or respect in the young people of today. If Thursday was any indication, this generation has a very healthy sense of respect and thoughtfulness.

My sense is that our veterans also found the services to be meaningful and special. Not only did it connect them to their “second homes” growing up (including remembering the school-mates, some of whom never came home,) it also allowed them to feel a sense of appreciation from the Appleby community for their service. In the 1970s and 80s, as a society we didn’t do a very good job paying tribute to those who served and those who died. It is one of those things that we are getting better at. It’s just too bad that so many who would have appreciated it are no longer with us.

I hope that we will be able to have more veterans return for future services – it is one of those things that they would enjoy, and there is no doubt that their involvement is a powerful experience for students and employees at Appleby today.

I am also interested in other ideas about how alumni involvement can enhance student experiences. Inter-generational connection is an important part of growing up, as it can create a profound, broader and more fulsome perspective for our young people.