(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRU REMEMBRANCE DAY

TRU Remembrance Day ceremony sheds light on role of UN peacekeepers, and what poppies represent

Nov 7, 2019 | 4:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — For students passing through Thompson Rivers University’s Old Main building today, the busy routine of university life slowed down. A ceremony ahead of Remembrance Day on Monday (Nov. 11) held the attention of curious TRU students.

The university’s format mirrored the city-wide ceremony held each year — complete with a reading of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields”, bagpipes, and a horn player on hand. Fitting for an institution created for learning, TRU’s ceremony also included an educational aspect.

Craig Thomson, the Royal Canadian Legion’s Kamloops Branch President, spoke to students about the role police officers have in United Nations peacekeeping, and why poppies are worn every November.

“The education of our young people is paramount so that they don’t forget what has been sacrificed for them in the past,” Thomson said after he and his wife finished setting up a poppy booth at the university. “There’s a lot of TRU students who come from other countries and don’t really understand what this little red flower is that everybody puts on their jackets this time of year. So I’m just going to enlighten them about that.”

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Thomson’s experience in service spans decades. After joining the Canadian Forces, Thomson eventually transferred to the RCMP, taking part in three United Nations tours overseas during his 35 years with the RCMP. His assignments working as a UN Civilian Police officer took him to Yugoslavia, Kosovo and East Timor.

“The first tour was in 1993 to the former Yugoslavia. That conflict saw the Croatians and the Serbians fighting with each other. They were actually warring when we were over there. Ethnic cleansing was huge at that time, with both sides trying clear their area of the other.”

In today’s address, Thomson explained what the blue berets worn by members such as himself mean, and what sort of work they took part in. His presentation not only educated people who may not have known about the RCMP’s service, but it also gave students a feeling of appreciation.

Come Monday, even more people will gather in Kamloops to honour the veterans who served to protect Canada and countries unable to defend themselves. The city’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony held at Riverside Park will begin at 10:45 a.m (Nov. 11).

Thomson adds that seeing people wearing poppies, and the events held during November means a lot to him, and every veteran.

“Every time I look out over the crowd on Remembrance Day at Riverside Park, it brings tears to my eyes to see how many people are actually coming out and remembering and supporting the veterans that were, and those that still are, and those coming in the future.”