For Master Warrant Officer Rachel Rienks, being lead cadet for the Honour Guard at this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony is both a privilege and a way to give back.
“To me it’s giving back to the veterans that helped us,” said Rienks. “It’s (Honour Guard) something to resemble protecting the place where we remember the soldiers who fought.”
A grade 12 student at Revelstoke Secondary Rienks, who has been involved with cadets for the past five years, has been in the Revelstoke Honour Guard for the past three years. She was also in an Honour Guard for one year in Sicamous. She said an Honour Guard is usually made up of four cadets – one in each corner. The most difficult aspect of Honour Guard is that, once in place, the cadets cannot move. Rienks says she recalls one particular Honour Guard where water from the flag pole dripped down the back of her jacket.
As lead cadet of the Honour Guard Rienks is responsible for giving commands, making sure all the cadets are there, as well as being a good role model for the other guards and cadets. As the senior cadet in Revelstoke, this is a role Rienks is already familiar with.
Along with Rienks the rest of the Honour Guard will include cadets Sgt. Adam Hudson and Master Cpl. Derek Drake and a fourth individual who has yet to be decided upon.