Navneet Punia, a Grade 5 student at Pineview Public School, feels it's so important for society to acknowledge the sacrifices of soldiers in war that she entered an Ontario-wide poem contest to share those passionate thoughts.
She clearly made an impression on judges as she placed second in the province in the Royal Canadian Legion's annual Remembrance Day Writing and Poster Contest. Legion members recently attended an assembly at Pineview to present Navneet with her award.
Navneet's essay focuses on the selfless choices made by the soldiers, which have provided Canadians many of the freedoms we have today. She adds a personal connection to her essay, outlining how she has the freedom to attend school, play sports, and make friends with people of different nationalities and religions because of the efforts of the Canadian military during the First and Second World Wars.
Punia also stresses the importance of Remembrance Day and keeping alive the memories of those soldiers, especially poignant this year, as the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge is commemorated.
“One of the reasons I took part in the contest was because our teachers taught us about Remembrance Day and this contest and it was really important to me," Navneet explained, noting she was also influenced by her sister who entered the contest last year.
She learned a lot about herself by participating in the competition.
“Remembrance Day is important to me because of all of the people who fought for us. Their memories should be kept alive, and my essay was a good way to remind people of these memories. Remembrance Day is a very important day for thinking of them."
Teacher Bobbi-Jo Gerdes said Navneet's accomplishment has become a valuable teaching moment for fellow students.
“When other students hear of Navneet's accomplishments, I hope they realize that they, too, can achieve something they once thought might be unattainable; recognizing if they persevere through challenges they just might surprise themselves with greater achievements of success in whatever they do," she said, while noting the work of fellow teacher Callie Watson, who helped organize school entries for the contest. “I hope students learn that having a little determination to try something new and challenging can help motivate them to reach goals beyond their own expectations and, in the process, inspire others, just as Navneet has done."
Navneet read her essay in front of a large group of people including members at the Georgetown Legion and her school assembly, and learned to overcome her nervousness.
“It was a good experience to share my writing with people."
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Remembrance Day by Navneet Punia:
Remembrance Day is all about remembering about all the soldiers and all the veterans that had fought for us and for peace. Every Remembrance Day, I think about our veterans, the sacrifices they endured and the difference they made in this world. This Remembrance Day, I am also thinking about choices.
It amazes me that so many of our military voluntarily made the choice to defend our country and what it stands for. They risked their lives so that we can live in a free society. They gave up time with their families, suffered serious injuries and faced unspeakable horrors to enable us to experience the freedom of choice and choose the life we wish to lead. We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless.
They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness. Remembrance Day is a really special day for all the families especially the families of those who had fought for peace and freedom in World War I and II
Freedom gives me the right to go to school and get the education that I want for my future and it gives me the right to play the sports I like without having to worry about people judging me for who I am. I can have friends with a different nationality and religion than mine because, in this day and age, we are taught that all people are equal.
On Remembrance Day we wear the poppy, a blood red flower which grew in the fields where many of the soldiers were buried. We wear one to show that we remember the dead.
On November 11th all the Canadians and everyone in Holland stand for the soldiers who fought because the soldiers fought for us and Holland. This is what I think Remembrance Day is about.