Preston, far right, represents youth across Canada at the National Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2025.
Preston Kane, student at Beaverlodge Regional High School, had the honour of travelling to the nation’s capital to represent Canadian youth at the 2025 National Remembrance Day ceremony. Preston’s poem A Mother’s Heart, A Father’s Pride, was chosen as the nationwide winner of The Legion National Foundation’s annual literary contest.
When asked why he entered the contest, Preston said he wanted to honour all the victims who suffer because of war. “I wanted to commemorate the victims who suffer, not just the death of their family member, but also those who live with mental illness, and the trauma that can still be present in veterans and how it can affect their families.” He adds he was in disbelief when he received the letter telling him he would have the chance to travel to Ottawa for the National Remembrance Day ceremony.
His national winning poem went through several levels of judging before making its way to Ottawa. “It wasn’t about winning for me; I’m just so grateful that I got the opportunity for my poem to be recognized at such a high level so many people could read it and be inspired.” He says the ceremony was absolutely amazing, and something he will truly never forget. “The actual ceremony was so touching, because it made me realize and reflect – in a world where people are always bashing on one another, in that moment it was a collective decision to disregard all our differences and take time to reflect.” He shares that the energy during the moment of silence was indescribable. “If ever you have the opportunity, cancel any plans you may already have and go to that ceremony!”
You can find Preston’s poem, along with the other 2025 winning submissions of the Legion’s literary, poster, and video contests here.
A MOTHER’S HEART, A FATHER’S PRIDE
Preston Kane
In fields now quiet, shadows sleep,
Where mothers’ tears still softly weep.
A son, her boy, once held so near,
Now lost beyond this world’s frontier.
She feels his laughter in the breeze,
A memory that will never ease.
Her arms ache still, though he is gone,
In dreams, she still sings his cradle song
A father stands with empty hands,
His pride now dust, in distant lands.
Once strong and tall, his son will say,
“Don’t worry, Papa – I’ll be okay!”
But battles steal what words can’t mend,
And silence is a bitter friend.
The father’s strength, now hallowed out,
A heart weighed down with fear and doubt.
A sister’s voice calls through the years,
Her laughter stained by hidden tears.
She thinks of games they used to play,
In fields of green on summer days.
And somewhere, a child cries alone
A face she’ll never fully know
Small hands reach out for someone dear,
A ghost who cannot hold her near
Yet in soil, their memory grows
In every flower that bravely shows
They gave the world a gift unpriced
Their love, their lives, their sacrifice.