Edmonton's No Stone Left Alone honours Canada's fallen in Poland

For the first time this Friday, schoolchildren in Poland will lay poppies on the graves of Canadian soldiers who never returned home from the Second World War.

The No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation, an Edmonton-based charity, has expanded its campaign to include a cemetery in Krakw, Poland, where 15 Canadian soldiers are interred.

"There are 15 Canadian soldiers, World War IIheroes, buried at the Rakowiecki cemetery," said Randall Purvis, chairman of the No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation.

• No Stone Left Alone: Students lay poppies in honour of Edmonton's fallen

Purvis and his wife, MaureenBianchini-Purvis, founded the non-profit organizationin 2011 with the mission of ensuringthose who gave their lives in battle are never forgotten.

Bianchini-Purvis, the daughter of twoSecond World War veterans,promisedher dying mother more than 30 years ago that she would not be forgotten on Remembrance Day.

Every November from then on,Bianchini-Purviswould return to the Field of Honour inBeechmountCemetery to lay a poppy, first alone, then later joined by her daughters.

The family was continuing the tradition when their daughter noticed that many veterans' headstones sat neglected.

The campaign started inBeechmountCemetery on104thStreet andhas grown into a national movement, workingwith the military, volunteer committees, students and educators.

More than 6,700 studentsand 9,000 volunteers were involved in last year's memorial ceremonies.

"In 2016, we were all across the country from Victoria to Oromocto," said Purvis during an interview with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. "We honoured 44,000 soldiers from coast-to-coast."

This is the first time the group hastaken the mission overseas.

'It's going to be a legacy'

The local school inKrakwisjoining the campaign and, every Sept. 1. willcommemorate the Canadian soldiers at the cemetery with a traditional poppy ceremony.

On Friday, 250 students, 300 soldiers and local dignitaries will gather to honour the fallen soldiersand pay their respects to the Canadian Forces.

"It's quite incredible," Purvissaid. "It's absolutely amazing the response we've been getting from our associates in Krakw."

The campaign hasreceived interest from other Polish schools looking to join the campaign, said Purvis. He expects the movement will spread across the country and become a tradition for local children.

"We're very confident that we've got a wonderful network here in Poland," said Purvis.

"It's going to be a legacy."