We, the undersigned, demand the immediate resignation of Rachel Webster, Principal of Sackville Heights Elementary School, and Lisa Gray, Vice Principal, in response to their decision to prohibit veterans from wearing their military uniforms at the school’s Remembrance Day event. This disrespectful policy diminishes the sacrifices made by those who have served, including Indigenous veterans, and fails to honour the significance of Remembrance Day. Our veterans deserve to be celebrated, not asked to set aside the very uniforms that symbolize their service. We call for leadership that respects and upholds the values of honour, sacrifice, and remembrance.

Who is Impacted?
This policy by Sackville Heights Elementary School disrespects the veterans, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who have served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms and uphold Canada’s values. Families, veterans, and the broader community feel the impact, as this decision diminishes the significance of wearing military uniforms—a profoundly symbolic gesture on Remembrance Day meant to honour service members. Veterans and their families are directly affected, with their contributions seemingly disregarded in a place meant to teach respect and remembrance to future generations.

What’s at Stake?
If this decision remains unchallenged, we risk eroding a core aspect of Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day, where the uniform represents courage, honour, and sacrifice. Allowing school leaders to impose such restrictions could set a troubling precedent, diminishing the importance of visible reminders of the sacrifices made by all veterans, including Indigenous soldiers who have faced unique challenges. If this policy is reversed, we can honour all veterans fully, allowing students to learn respect firsthand by seeing service members proudly wearing their uniforms. This change is essential for preserving the respect and dignity these days represent.

Why Act Now?
This policy has already gained public attention, with leaders across Nova Scotia, including the Premier, expressing concern. We must immediately demand accountability from Principal Rachel Webster and Vice Principal Lisa Gray, whose decision undermines the honour veterans rightfully deserve on Remembrance Day. By calling for their resignations, we send a clear message that the community values and respects our veterans’ service and sacrifices and insists on a school leadership that shares those values. Now is the time to stand up for our veterans and uphold the integrity of Remembrance Day in our schools.

 Let us not forget the words of In Flanders Fields, where poppies grow "between the crosses, row on row," as a reminder of those who sacrificed everything. Our veterans, past and present, proudly wear their uniforms, embodying the courage and dedication of those who came before them. On Remembrance Day, they deserve our respect and gratitude, not restrictions. By standing together and demanding change, we ensure that the legacy of our veterans remains honoured, teaching future generations the true meaning of sacrifice, duty, and remembrance.