"A Day to Remember": Remembrance Day Ceremony at Vimy Ridge

or

“Canadians Paying Tribute to their Fallen Warriors”: Remembrance Day

Ceremony at Vimy Ridge

It was a clear, sunny autumn day on 11 November 2016 near Arras, France at Vimy Ridge

with a noticeable chill in the air. It was perfect weather for a Canadian Remembrance Day

ceremony to pay tribute to its fallen warriors at the place where Canada honours its World War I

sacrifices: the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Here, in April 1917, four Canadian Army

divisions came together and fought as one Corps, achieving victory against tremendous odds. It is

these hollow grounds where Canada came of age through the blood, sweat and tears that were shed

by its citizens and allied nations almost a century ago.

The idea to have the Naples Canadian Community Remembrance Day ceremony at Vimy

Ridge came from LGen Alain Parent, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command

Naples, Italy. A contingent comprising of 34 members, along with their families, from the Canadian

Armed Forces Detachment in Naples, Italy travelled to northern France. They were joined by 95

members of A Company 1 Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, on deployment to

Poland for Op REASSURANCE. Hosted by Parks Canada and assisted by the Veterans Affairs

Canada student guides, LGen Alain Parent presided over the ceremony with Col Jean-Pascal

Levasseur commanding the parade formation. The ceremony was to serve as a prelude to the 100th

anniversary of the battle that will take place on 09 Apr 2017.

The memorial, created by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Seymour Allward, evoked

strong emotions from those that participated in the event. In his speech, LGen Parent said that “It’s

no secret that no one expected the Canadian’s to succeed that day. Yet here you are today, standing

on the very spot where 100 years ago, German soldiers stood watching the Canadian troops

advance. The Germans laughed off the possibility of the Canadians reaching their objective. The

simple fact that you have the opportunity to be standing here is a testament of how wrong they

were.”

The Battle of Vimy Ridge brings great pride to Canada and its citizens as it was the defining

moment during World War I that brought strong sense of national identity. Canada’s military

achievements during the war allowed it to have a separate signature on the Treaty of Versailles that

ended the supposed war of all wars. At that time, Canada was a nation of eight million people and it

paid a very high toll during the conflict with more than 66,000 lost lives and 170,000 wounded.

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial that stands on Hill 145, overlooking what was once a

battlefield where Canadians saw some of the fiercest fighting during World War I, is truly a

remarkable site to visit. The monument and its surrounding landscape shaped with trenches and

tunnels draws out sorrow and pride from those who personally witness its wonders. One can only

imagine the misery of trench warfare during the First World War through the remnants on display

throughout the battlefield park.

It truly was an experience to cherish. Lest We Forget!

By: LCdr Ellister Campana CD1

For more information on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, please visit

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/france/vimy.