Day 7 - 100 years past, present and future....

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME...WAIT THERE WILL NEVER BE A VIMY 100 AGAIN

Well sir…..what a day!!!  I am sure that many of you have watched, from the cool comfort of your homes, the Vimy 100 celebrations.  The other thing you had over us was that you were able to show up at 11 AM or maybe as early as 10:59 PM, and not be within shuttle distance by 10 and onsite by 11ish.  But I do believe our seats were better than yours!!!  A LITTLE HOTTER I SUSPECT, BUT OVERALL BETTER….

Vimy Day…..

I wanted to let the kids write about their experiences and I will reflect on mine a little later...overall it was a great day and even though I am really on Day 8 because we just got in from the Eiffel Tower and a day of touring Paris...so here goes...you will enjoy!!!

Emily Rossiter

            The Vimy 100 anniversary started around 5:30 AM for me, approximately the time when the soldiers started to charge into no mans land. I remember waking up and thinking about how scared those soldiers must have felt, going over the top of the trenches. For a lot of people, this would be the last morning for them. Waking up at that early hour was very powerful.  

A few hours later, I was walking towards the Vimy monument. For me, seeing the monument was a very surreal moment because I was able to look at the gigantic craters in the ground and think about how much death had happened where I was walking. The scenery was beautiful where Vimy was, but I couldn’t help but feel downcast for the simple fact that thousands of people had died where my feet were touching. Not only was I thinking about the amount of people that have died, but I also was thinking of my Great-Great- Grandfather, who fought at Vimy. I was possibly walking where he might have walked, which was an indescribable feeling. Vimy is described as one of the bloodiest day in Canadian Military history and I could only imagine what my Great-Great-Grandfather would have witnessed and done to protect his country.

During the ceremony, there were many elements that were impactful on my Vimy 100 experience. One of my favourite moments was when the artillery guns were being fired 21 times. When it went off, you could hear a loud bang, see smoke go up in the air and even feel the ground shake underneath your feet. This really help me imagine what a little bit of the battle of Vimy Ridge might have been like. There was only one artillery gun going off during the ceremony, but during the battle there were probably hundreds. The combination of the sound, smoke and vibrations of the  ground would be intense and honestly scary and I do not think I would be brave enough to endure what the soldiers did. Not only did they have artillery guns being fired, but they also had people reading off letters from soldiers to their love ones. One that sticks out in my mind, is a soldier writing about his new boots. He describes the cold and wet conditions of the trenches and the joy of getting new, warm boots. He even went on the describe the terrible things of the trenches, such as fleas and the anxiety of the being hit by a shell. He also went on to ask for forgiveness from God for using his bayonet. The reading of letters made me really think of what the soldiers had to endure, during the war. They had to suffer terrible living conditions, be far away from loved ones and had to kill people or be killed themselves. The amount of pain and anxiety soldiers had to endure was incredible.  Another moment during the ceremony that was impactful was when Prime Minister Trudeau was speaking. He stated that an important torch was being passed down to our generation.  There are no more living World War 1 veterans, so it’s our responsibility to remember what the veterans have done for us and to tell future generations.  These few moments from the ceremonies will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I will make it my personal responsibility to tell today’s generation and future generations about what the soldiers of Vimy Ridge, as well as all subsequent wars have done for us.

The Vimy ceremony, and the trip itself, was not just a trip to pay respects to veterans and be thankful, it also gave me a new understanding of my freedom. I was able to see and experience the terrain of Vimy and other battle fields.  I also had the opportunity to visit Canadian and German War cemeteries. I am coming home with  new understanding of my freedom and a better comprehension of how big of a sacrifice veterans have made for my country and my future. Without the veterans and current military personnel, I do not think we would be a free and peaceful country. I remember when we were leaving Vimy Ridge,  a group of students started to sing “O Canada”. Everybody around them joined in. While singing, I was filled with peace and immense pride for my country. After “O Canada”, I remember being so thankful for everything the veterans have done for me so that I could live in the country I live in today.  This trip taught me the real meaning of remembrance.

So to any veteran, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Kaitlynn Sheculski

            Months and months of preparation leading up to this day, and we were finally here. As I walked through the Vimy forest, past the deep craters and towering trees, I realized just how impactful this day would be.  Thousands upon thousands of Canadians coming together to pay our respects for the veterans and those who are currently serving for our country. There will never be another moment like this one. As we came to the clearing, I saw the monument. Honestly, the pictures didn’t do it justice. Its sheer size was beyond my expectations, and though I didn’t expect it to be a small monument, seeing it right in front of me is the type of thing you can’t shake from your mind. As we settled in for a few hours wait, I thought about the importance of me going on this trip, along with my peers. I thought of my grandfather, my great-grandfather, and my uncles that have served and how impactful it was to be the first out of my immediate family to visit the Vimy Ridge monument.

            My grandfather, Gordon, had served for many years in the RCAF as an engineer, and him and I were as close as can be. We teased each other ruthlessly, and our inside jokes were only slightly annoying to the rest of my family. Regardless, I knew he had my back and I had his, and I’m blessed to have had such a relationship with an amazing man like him. He always talked about Vimy Ridge, and how important it was. He wanted me to go on the trip more than anything, but at the time, I didn’t really want to go. I felt that I would end up being one of those people that just went on this trip “to go to Europe”, and the true meaning would be lost on me. Regardless of how many times my grandfather and the rest of my family assured me I would represent my family perfectly, I didn’t end up signing up for the trip at first. The school year ended, I started my new job, and my grandfather fell ill. He was in the hospital for only a week or so, and he passed. The suddenness of it all, and the fact that I had just lost my best friend and the person I could confide in, really shook me to my core. All that rang through my head was, “I need to get to Vimy Ridge”.  

I didn’t think it would happen, I mean, I had missed the deadline to sign up and I didn’t really know the teachers running the trip. Nevertheless, I ended up taking Global Issues with Mr. Chisholm (a great class, by the way) and he and I developed a great teacher-student relationship. I expressed my feelings of disappointment when I didn’t make it to sign up in time, and a few months later my parents were recording my reaction as they told me that Chizzy had found me a spot on the trip (of course, I cried a lot).  I think it was just the fact that I could finally fulfill one of my grandfather’s wishes for me, and represent my family on such a large scale, that really made this trip memorable for me. Europe is gorgeous, and the hidden gems within it, like the Thelus Military Cemetery, are the aspects of the trip I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Now, as I was saying, the day itself was way more impressive than I could have ever thought, and my expectations weren’t low by any means. The fly bys, the letters from soldiers, and the prayers being read were all elements that made it memorable for me. I have always been fascinated by military aircrafts, probably something passed down to me by my grandfather, who was in the RCAF, as well as my great-grandfather who was in the RAF. Hearing Prime Minister Trudeau speak about all those who have fought, made it that much more impactful for me. To see Canadians come together as a nation, to give thanks to those who have fought for our freedom, gives me chills just thinking about it. Singing “O Canada” as a group solidified that, and whether you were there alongside my peers, and I or just watching at home, I thank you for participating in such a momentous occasion.

As we drive toward Paris, I can’t believe this trip has almost come to an end. It has flown by, and I’m not fully ready to go back to “normal life” back on Prince Edward Island. Regardless, I know that in a few weeks time, in addition to annoying my friends and family with the retelling of stories from the trip, I will still feel like I do today, and the significance of this trip will follow me for the rest of my life.

Devon Clark

            A week ago we landed in London and it has all lead up to this one day. We have seen many things on this trip so far such as Big Ben, Juno Beach, and countless cemeteries. But, none of these have been as hauntingly beautiful as the Vimy monument itself. Each statue on the monument represents something different, the statue that stood out the most to me and to the majority of people is the one of mother Canada mourning the loss of her sons, it truly is a heartbreaking scene.

            So, in order to accurately show my experience to Vimy I need to start with the weather. It was such a hot day with not a cloud in the sky, previous years were full of rain and dreary weather. The sun was beating down on all of us, some of us (myself included) were too naive to bring sunscreen and ended the day with sunburns on our faces and arms. Oh well, it is a small price to pay to show my respect to all of the soldiers who gave their lives for our country.

            We got to the monument at about 11:15 and the celebration wasn’t set to start until 4, so as you can see there was a lot of time to fill before hand. I also got to meet up with my parents, who also came to Vimy for the 100^th anniversary, I am glad I got to spend the ceremony with my parents as it was a very touching ceremony that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.

            So, I talked a lot about setting the scene of this ceremony but what about the ceremony itself? Well, it was wonderful. So many big names in the world were their to speak of the sacrifice 100 years ago. One of the most chilling moments during the ceremony for me was at the very start when they showed the United Kingdom flag, the Canadian Flag, and the Flag of France. During this time it occurred to me that these three nations still get together after 100 years to celebrate what happened, that we can still appreciate what went on for the sake of our lives now. When I saw this I literally got a chill down my spine, and it inspired me so much that I will make sure I pass this all to the future generations so we can continue to gather in Vimy every year to honour our fallen.      

     

           Well I am not sure I can sum it up any better than that....I will tell you one thing that I was very proud to be a Canadian yesterday and it is something that I will never forget.  The lives of these brave souls will be forever remembered and I feel very confident that the torch has been passed onto the next generation and will continue to burn brightly for generations to come. 

On another note, we just received our first email from a Thelus visit... 

Dear Keirstyn , 

This afternoon I visited the gravesite of my uncle, Ernest Ralph Frost, at Thelus Military Cemetery.  What a delightful surprise it was to find your letter beneath his Tombstone!   As you know, Ernest was 19 years old when he died in the battle at Vimy Ridge during WWI.  What you might not know is that 3 months later, his mother gave birth to my father and honoured him with the same name.  The second Ernest Ralph Frost enlisted in the RAF in WWII.  While stationed in England, he received the George Cross, the highest award for gallantry, presented to him by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.  These 2 sons, one the eldest and one the youngest in a family of 12 children, made their parents very proud.  And so today I want you to know that I am very proud of you for honouring my uncle.

Yours sincerely,

Patricia Frost Stebbins

Having picture issues...will upload in the morning...good night and I will report on Paris tomorrow morning as well...