Day 8 – The end of the road and runway...

As I sit here in Montreal waiting for our connecting flight I thought it would be best to finish this thing off…well It’s not really done because along with your help I am going to have to hassle a few people for pics and write ups for their vets to go on the blog to really cement this whole affair. 

Overall we have had a once in a lifetime experience, each and every one of us.  Each time when I write this blog I will always state that fact…but this time it really was…VIMY 100!!!  I still haven’t completely processed what we have just done….we travelled a great distance to celebrate the lives of people we didn’t know, that is what I find really awesome about this.  The travel alone, in my mind, is a great learning experience for kids who can sometimes have trouble seeing outside their own personal bubbles.  They meandered their way through airports, subways, big cities and large crowds…with great success I might add.  But more importantly they started the journey of remembrance that is going to have to be passed down from their generation to the next, that is their job now…..mine is not done as I try to continue to educate students in our area about the importance of this endeavour.

Now onto the thanks…..there are many people that need to be thanked in order to get something like this off the ground and get these kids to Europe for such an important milestone. 

-First thank you goes out to Jeff Clow and the admin at TOSH for their full support in getting this project in working order from ideas and dreams to paperwork and backing with the Public Schools Branch. 

-To Parker Grimmer and Dave Gillis at the PSB who have also supported this dream of ours, and their continued support going forward.  Gilly you were a great travel companion as well and I was glad that you got to experience Vimy 100 with us.

-Thanks to EF tours for making all of the arrangements for the tour.  Many people will only look at the price of the trip and make a statement that they could shop around and find better prices.  Well, what you don’t ever see is that behind the scenes support as well as the technical support when issues arise….thankfully none this time.  Between their on the ground TD’s to the EF support staff in Toronto and Montreal offices, my mind is at ease when on tour.  Thanks again!!!

-Thanks to Tom Quinn and David Harrod, the two best tour directors in Europe and lifelong friends of mine.  Parents you will never realize how well your kids were looked after in Europe and these two men are responsible…..I will surely travel with both of you again and can’t wait.  Always remember you are always welcome in my home and it was a pleasure finally introducing part of my family to you!!!  Take care and safe travels to you both!!!

-Thanks to my parent chaperones, Dr. Trina Stewart and Byron Shaw.  Both of you earned your keep this week and we couldn’t have done it with you and I would travel the world with both of you in a heartbeat.

-Thanks to Stacey Thain who was always so positive and upbeat (I knew that is how she roles) each and every morning, noon and night.  The day at Thelus will be a moment in time that I will never forget.

-To Amanda, Dave, Kelly and Barb.  Thanks for all of the prep work behind the scenes and in the trenches when I was unable to be there because of coaching commitments and such.  You were asked to come for various reasons and each of you contributed in your own ways and made things very easy over the last 14 months.

-Thanks to my family this time for allowing me to follow my crazy dreams to get kids from our little community all the way to Europe to discover their past, in some cases their families and in all cases themselves.  Julie and Max your time is coming when you can join me on the adventure…hint hint…2020 in the Vimy to the Netherlands sounds pretty good!!

-Thanks to the parents for entrusting your children to our care and also the desire to let your kids grow.  They are going to spread their wings soon enough and this adventure on many different levels will be a major stepping stone in their development as young men and young women.

-Thanks to the kids for getting involved.  This is not a miraculous transformation that just happens because you were there.  If you didn’t quite get the picture just yet, I am confident that you will.  Each time I asked you to do an interview you did it(we did CBC, CTV, BBC, Radio France), each time I asked you to be somewhere for some reason you did it.  You carried yourselves with great respect for your families and communities.  There were bumps in the road and you grew from those bumps being pointed out.  Good on ya!!!  NOW JUST GET YOUR RESEARCH DIGITIZED AND LET’S FINISH THIS THING OFF!!!

The final and most important thanks goes out to all of the veterans from past, present and future.  Your noble desire to protect and defend those who cannot will never be forgotten and taken for granted again.  A special thanks goes out to the veterans in my family and extended family from my uncles David, Phillip, Pius and Bobby on the Doyle side(my mom's brothers), the great uncles on the Champion's(my Dad's uncles) who are not with us today, and the Black family on Julie's side(Julie's cousin Nannette who is still serving today and Uncle Lew, recently passed, who dedicated his entire life to the military). Thanks for all you do, I have never said it enough!!!

-Thanks to anyone that I may have missed and may have to come back and edit the post because my brain is tired at the moment…..waiting for the last leg to begin and will chat with you all soon enough!!!

LEST WE FORGET