Everyone invited to participate in “No Stone Left Alone”
By Jayne L. Buryn, Communications Coordinator, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton
For the past six years, a few days before Remembrance Day, grade six Ukrainian bilingual class students from St. Matthew’s Catholic elementary school have honoured the soldiers buried in St. Michael’s cemetery (13819 – 82 Street, Edmonton ) by laying a poppy on each gravestone. This gesture originated with Mrs. Maureen G. Bianchini-Purvis, daughter of two war veterans, to commemorate the sacrifice of Canadian men and women “in the service of peace”.
With the laying of poppies on every gravestone, each participating cemetery will resemble Flanders Fields, where “the poppies grow between the crosses, row on row,” as described in the poem written by Canadian serviceman, physician and poet, John McCrae. The initiative has spread throughout Canada, and for her efforts, Mrs. Bianchini-Purvis was named the Global network’s Woman of Vision in 2014.
In 2017, St. Matthew’s Ukrainian bilingual program students will once again distribute the poppies in the “No Stone Left Alone” commemoration that is celebrated simultaneously at cemeteries throughout Edmonton. Bishop David Motiuk and clergy from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton will participate, along with members of the Edmonton Garrison.
The ceremony will include the singing of the national anthem, a recital of John McCrae’s poem, a prayer of remembrance, a number of inspirational readings, and the playing of the “Last Post” by a bugler. There will be a moment of silence and the laying of a wreath at the cemetery’s central cross, followed by a panakhyda (prayer service) concelebrated by Bishop David and Eparchy clergy and the laying of the poppies.
For more information, visit https://eeparchy.com/blog/2016/12/01/no-stone-left-alone/
Link to Woman of Vision: https://globalnews.ca/news/1706678/woman-of-vision-maureen-bianchini-purvis/
or contact: Marc Turgeon, Eparchial Cemeteries Manager, by emailing mturgeon@edmontoneparchy.com or by calling him at 780-424-5493, cell: 780-667-6208.