Local poet wins Legion Remembrance Day contest

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Lest we forget...
Every November 11th Canadians pause to remember those that gave the supreme sacrifice for our freedom.
For decades the Canadian Legion has spearheaded those Remembrance Day ceremonies and also coordinated several other programs like the poppy program.
While the Poppies are sold for a donation to help veterans and their families, the Poppy committee of each legion has also ran a writing and poetry contest with a Remembrance Day theme for years.
This year the Rainy River Legion had many entries for the poster contest and several written submissions. One of those literary works was a poem by Deidre Wilson that won the regional award in the intermediate division.
Wilson, in grade 9 wrote the following poem:

Let Me Paint a Picture
By Deidre Wilson

Let me paint a picture
Of times gone by,
Of a battlefield,
The gunfire echoing
And drowning out the cry
Of the larks overhead.

Let me paint a picture
Of so long ago
Of a field of crosses
Swimming in a sea of red
Of dead men walking,
There spirits living still.
Let me paint a picture
Of times still fresh
Of a torch being passed;
Handed down from hands failing,
To hands rising up.

Let me paint a picture
Of today,
Of the pride we share.
Memories fade, and
Scars heal,
But the sacrifice is not forgotten.
Forever we shall celebrate our freedom won
By those who died, and now sleep among the poppies;
Wearing red upon our breast.
Let us live the picture
That they have painted for us.

Wilson received a certificate and $25 in cash for her poem. She also advanced to the national competition but did not win at that level.