Enrico Pavone

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In a moving display of remembrance, over 100 students joined Italian diplomatic officials and community and civic leaders last week to honour Italian-Canadian veterans at the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire.

Under clear spring skies, students from several local schools gathered at the cemetery’s Currie Circle, where they participated in a solemn ceremony paying tribute to those who served. The commemoration saw young participants placing candles at the gravesites of Italian-Canadian veterans, bridging generations through acts of remembrance.

“Seeing these young people connect with our veterans’ legacy brings hope for the future,” said Italian Consul General Enrico Pavone, who attended alongside Deputy Consul Fortunato Mangiola. The diplomatic representatives joined members of Casa D’Italia and the broader Italian community in what proved to be a powerful morning of reflection and education.

The No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation, which helped organize the event, provided students with historical context about the National Field of Honour and the veterans interred there. Young participants listened intently to stories of service and sacrifice before placing their candles – each light representing a promise to remember.

The ceremony, which ran from 10 a.m. to noon, took place at Canada’s largest privately-owned military cemetery. Since its establishment in 1930, the Field of Honour has served as the final resting place for countless Canadian and Allied veterans. Its significance in preserving military heritage led to its designation as a National Historic Site in 2007. n