Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Air and Army Cadets' annual overnight vigil before Remembrance Day at the cenotaph was pared down to four hours last weekend due to a lack of volunteers to supervise the cadets.

The Yellowknife Air and Army cadets are one of only two units in Canada that conduct an overnight vigil.

825 Air cadet Flight Cpl. Alex May stands sentinel at the cenotaph in front of City Hall on the night before Remembrance Day. This was May's third vigil, and he said he was disappointed it was shortened due to lack of volunteer supervisors. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

This year the number of army cadets has skyrocketed to 45, one of the highest number in years.

Many of the first-year cadets had heard about the overnight vigil and had mixed feelings about the shortened vigil.

On the one hand they would not be tired when marching in the Remembrance Day parade the next day, however they were missing out on what the senior cadets said they looked forward to every year.

"This is my third year doing it," said Capt. Sonja Martin-Elson with 2837 Army Cadets.

She said last year she stood for 30 minutes in the cold, but this year she stood sentinel for only 10 minutes.

Sentinel involves the cadets standing with their hands folded over the butt of their air rifles, the muzzle of the gun resting on their shoe and their head bowed.

"The overnight vigils are a lot of fun," said Martin-Elson.

"(Next year) I really hope it's overnight."

Prior to standing sentinel, Army Cadet Morgan Ryan said she was excited to do the vigil.

"I'm pretty excited because I haven't had this experience yet," she said.

Ryan is a first-year cadet, and said that she had heard all about the vigil from the other cadets.

For some cadets, standing sentinel during the vigil is a time for reflection.

"Since one of my parents is in the military, I'll be thinking about what would happen if they went (overseas)," said first year cadet Anne-Carolyn Binette.

"My mom and dad are both in the military so I think about war a lot," said Cadet Melanie Vantyghem.

For some of the new cadets doing the task well mattered more than the cold.

"I was just really focusing on staying still," said Thomas Marshman.

After standing vigil for four hours Saturday night, the cadets packed up their things and returned home just after 10 p.m.