Nain teens to recite Commitment to Remembrance at Beaumont-Hamel

After the community pulled together to help out, a group of teens from Nain, Labrador are getting the experience of a lifetime in France this week for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel.

The trip was organized by teacher TonyTibbo, who will take 14 students to England and France,along with three other chaperones. Originally an overseas trip had been planned for 2017but plans were frantically changed so the students could be in Beaumont-Hamel for the centennialanniversary of one of the province's darkest days.

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'Very excited'

The highlight of the trip is the ceremony atBeaumont-HamelonJuly 1, where the students will not only join thousands of others from around the world, but will actually take part in the event itself.

At the request of Veterans AffairsCanada, students Ethan ShiwakandTaylor Ivanywill be reciting the Commitment to Remembrance in theInuktitut language during the ceremony.

Both students have a personal connection to the Newfoundland RegimentShiwak's great, great-uncle John Shiwak was part of the Regiment and Ivany's great, great-grandfather was a sniper.

"I'm very excited," Ethan Shiwak told CBC's Labrador Morning prior to his trip."My family was telling me he was a really great man, and yesterday we watched a video that kind of explained his story in World War One."

Shiwak hasbeen busy practicing his lines, and knows the recitation off by heart at this point. He said when he is reading those words in front of royalty and thousands of others, he'll be thinking of his family both those 100 years in the past, and those who are proud of him back in Nain this week.

"I will be thinking about my family back home and how they feel about me, and I'll also be thinking of my Uncle John," he said.

"My mother is proud beyond words and she is always going to talk about it when I come back I think."

Listen to Tony Tibbo and Ethan Shiwak's interview on Labrador Morning below:

Labrador Morning8:37Nain teens to recite Commitment to Remembrance at Beaumont Hamel

Young people from Nain are heading to Beaumont Hamel for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Two students will have a special role to play at the ceremony.