Saskatchewan's connection to McCrae's Remembrance Day poem

When Chris Myers hears the iconic poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel and physician John McCrae, he thinks of Alexis Helmer.

According toMyers, Helmer is the cousin of hisgreat-great-great-grandfather.

Myersfirst heard about the connection from his parents as a child and it is something whichstuck with him ever since.

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He said although the poem can be a bit depressing, it's also upbeat in some ways and that plays into its importance.

"It really puts an uplifting spirit into such a dark time in history."

Myerslooked back on school activities during Remembrance Day, such as gathering in his school's gymnasium to recite the poem and sing songs.

"It was important for us, but every year I think I took it more serious than, I think, lots of people did," he said.

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"It's such an important thing for our freedom, our past, our future, everything about it," Myers said. "To have something like that just drift away isn't the most fair for the people who fought for our freedom."

Helmer died during the Second Battle of Ypres on May 2, 1915. McCrae was said to be one of Helmer'sclose friends and helped bury the remains of the soldier after he was hit by German artillery.

McCraethen began writing the poem on May 3, mere yards from Helmer'sburial site.

Myers usually spends Remembrance Day watching ceremonies in Ottawa before observing a moment of silence at 11, he said.

"A little bit of the connection to family and a bit withI'm just proud to be Canadian," he said. "It's important to me. It's one of the things I do every year."