Dozens of Vancouverites gathered at Victory Square this morning to remember those who lost their lives in the battle of Vimy Ridge 95 years ago.
Chuck MacDonald made a point of attending the event.
MacDonald says he made a trip to Vimy Ridge in 2004, and found the memorial intact and powerful.
“It is always so emotional…”
Grade 12 student Stephanie Nowak also made a trek to the fields of Vimy Ridge as part of the Vimy Foundation award she won last summer.
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Over two weeks, she got to visit battle sites across Europe, but the grandeur of the Vimy memorial stood out for her.
“Canadians are quiet heroes, but their staggering success at Vimy made them legends,” said Nowak at the ceremony
Seven cadet regiments were also on hand to take part in the ceremony. Some were chosen to lay out commemorative wreaths in honor of the fallen, many of whom were the same age as them.
After the playing of “Lament” and a moment of silence, it was back to Nowak to wrap up the ceremony with her ‘commitment to remember’:
“They were young, as we are young.
They served, giving freely of themselves.
To them, we pledge, amid the winds of time, To carry their torch and never forget.
We will remember them….”
Over 3,600 Canadians were killed in the battle that became a turning point in our country’s history. It is estimated 700 to 800 of those hailed from British Columbia.
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