When Michelle and I left Canada with Brett, Keegan, and Joel for our four-month European adventure, we had only a vague idea of the role Canadian soldiers played in World War I and World War II. That changed when we traveled to northern France, a battleground for both world wars. After visiting museums, cemeteries, and memorials, and learning about Canada’s contribution, we had a much greater appreciation of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers.
Of all the sites we visited, the Vimy Ridge Memorial stands out. To our surprise, the site of the memorial is on Canadian soil, as it was given to Canada by France to commemorate the over 60,000 Canadians who died fighting in World War I. It sits on the highest point of Vimy Ridge, overlooking the battlefield where the fiercest fighting occurred. The memorial is massive, with two 27-meter-tall twin pylons that tower above Douai Plain. Engraved on the base of the memorial are the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who have no known grave.
The road to the Vimy Ridge Memorial runs through a pine and maple forest, with connecting paths to cemeteries, restored trenches, and smaller memorials. It was a dreary day with no other tourists when we arrived at the visitor center where we met Scott, a Canadian who works for Parks Canada. He immediately recognized we were from Canada by the Canadian flag pins we wore, and he offered to give us a private tour of the tunnels which were closed during the off-season. Because we were Canadian, he also showed us tunnels and artifacts that were not part of the public tour.
Although I appreciate the Remembrance Day ceremonies I had attended in Canada, no ceremony could have provoked as much emotion as I felt when Scott toured us through the tunnels. Scott described the life of soldiers in the trenches, and we saw artifacts from the war, like gas masks, munitions, and uniforms. The war became real, no longer words or pictures in a history book. I could easily imagine what young Canadian soldiers would have experienced fighting at Vimy Ridge. And then when I saw a rusted helmet with a bullet hole worn by an unknown soldier, I had to fight back the tears.
Vimy Ridge is now peaceful. Silence has replaced the noise of gunfire and explosions. The forest has healed the battlefield’s scars. In place of men fighting, people from a nearby village enjoy strolling through the tranquil park. The Vimy Ridge Monument, however, stands vigil in the distance, reminding visitors it is the resting place of Canadian soldiers, lost under the forest.
We left Vimy Ridge feeling prouder than ever to wear our Canadian pins.
One Last Kick 