CLASSIFIEDSADVERTISINGSPECIAL ISSUESONLINE SPORTSOBITUARIESNORTHERN JOBSTENDERS

NNSL Photo/Graphic


Home page text size buttonsbigger textsmall textText size Email this articleE-mail this page

Remembrance Day wreaths of honour
Rankin ceremony biggest in recent memory

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 18, 2015

RANKIN INLET
Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Remembrance Day service at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet on Nov. 11.

The gathering represented the largest crowd to attend the Rankin service during the past few years.

The ceremony was overseen by master of ceremonies Gabe Karlik, the past president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 Rankin Inlet, with translations supplied by Johnny Ayarauq.

The honour parade was made up of members of the 3019 Rankin Inlet Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the RCMP, Canadian Rangers Rankin Patrol and local volunteer firefighters.

For Douglas Aliyak, the day marked his first Remembrance Day \service as a member of the Rankin cadets.

Aliyak said he was excited to take part in the ceremony.

He said it was, kind of, hard standing in one spot for so long, but he was proud to be there.

"I'm really enjoying being a cadet," said Aliyak.

"I know this is an important day for us and I was a little nervous.

"I hope to do well enough in cadets to get the chance to leave Rankin and take part in some kind of a cadet trip."

Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph on behalf of the Queen, federal government, territorial government, Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, Joint Task Force North, Veterans of Canada, Canadian Rangers, Rankin cadets, fire department, Royal Canadian Legion and Girl Guides of Canada.

Wreaths were also offered by Marvin Dion on behalf of father, George Dion; Pelagie Nichol on behalf of her grandfather, Sgt. William Henry Green of the RCAF 432 Air Squadron, who was shot down on Dec. 3, 1943 and buried in Germany; Leslie Dean and Landon Stanley Tulugak on behalf of her great-grandfather; Stanley Frederick Dean and Atuat Shouldice, on behalf of his grandfather.

Nadine Oolooyuk said she's always proud to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony.

She said she's learned a lot about the day and what it means since she joined the cadet program.

"It's a special day with a lot of meaning," said Oolooyuk.

"I love every single thing about being in the cadet program and taking part in this ceremony is an important part of that."

E-mailWe welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.