AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 8, 2026
Students Gather to Remember Fallen Soldiers
On Thursday afternoon, fifty Grade 6 students from Crescent Valley Elementary School in Hinton, Alberta, joined their teachers, local politicians, and community members in the Brûlé cemetery to honour two soldiers who served in the First World War. The event took place in a remote cemetery nestled in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, marking the sixth year of the school’s participation in No Stone Left Alone, an annual nationwide campaign encouraging youth to remember Canada's fallen soldiers.
No Stone Left Alone Campaign Inspires Youth
At the ceremony, students placed a wreath and painted rocks with the phrase “Lest We Forget” on the graves of Andrew Marcus Scott and Malcolm McMillan. The event fostered a sense of remembrance and community involvement among the students. "We will always keep the memory alive, so no one will forget them," said Denys Panasiuk, a Grade 6 student who acknowledged the sacrifices made by soldiers in both world wars for Canadians' freedom and peace.
Mystery Surrounds the Fallen Soldiers
The identities and histories of Scott and McMillan remain largely unknown. Both men drowned, in 1921 and 1922 respectively, but little documentation exists concerning their lives or service. Maddy Sharman, Yellowhead County’s heritage coordinator, noted the lack of Canadian enlistment papers for either soldier, suggesting they might have served in the British military. She has applied to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to obtain military headstones for their graves, a customary honour for veterans. Currently, Scott and McMillan have generic headstones, similar to those of other graves in the cemetery.
Brûlé Cemetery’s Ongoing Maintenance and Community Value
When the two soldiers lived in Brûlé, the mining community’s population peaked at about 1,700 residents, compared to just 120 today. Following the mine’s closure a few years after their deaths, most residents left, and the cemetery was largely forgotten. Despite this, Brûlé’s community members have continued to maintain the cemetery, preserving a piece of local history that might otherwise have been lost.
Maddy Sharman credited local residents’ efforts, explaining that many other cemeteries in Yellowhead County have disappeared over time due to neglect. "That is such a beautiful testament to how important this area is to the community," she said.
Community Volunteers Prepare for Remembrance
Dale Byers, a long-time Brûlé resident since 1997, described his involvement with cemetery maintenance. Alongside six other volunteers, Byers helped prepare the grounds for the remembrance ceremony by cutting grass, tidying headstones, and clearing debris. Byers, who had family members serve in both world wars, reflected, "It's the only way to learn," highlighting the importance of passing on remembrance to the next generation.
Looking Ahead: Advocating for Proper Recognition
Efforts continue to secure appropriate military recognition for Scott and McMillan. As the community keeps the memories of these soldiers alive through annual remembrance and ongoing care for the cemetery, their stories endure as a vital part of local and national heritage.
Source: cbc.ca.
