Remembering at Vimy

Remembering at Vimy

On Canada Day 2014 I had the privilege of visiting the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada. I was doubly fortunate as Virginie, my airbnb host in Arras, understanding how important it was for a Canadian to visit Vimy, offered to take me there when neither a tour nor public transit was an option for that day. 

It was not far by car, only 11 kilometres. Once off the main road we drove along a tree shaded lane and into the 107-hectare park that France gifted to the Canadian people. The monument was our first stop, where a blue sky and a slight breeze made for ideal viewing. Shortly before 10 am only two other visitors were there. We also visited the small visitor centre and museum and the trenches.

Canadian trenches at Vimy Ridge

The Vimy Memorial is magnificent. With two soaring columns and 20 allegorical figures, all in white marble, it is inscribed with the names of 11,285 Canadians who were killed on French soil and have no known graves. We found the name of a friend of my maternal grandfather. They were homesteaders and neighbours in rural Alberta; my grandfather survived WWI but his friend did not.

Some of the names of 11,285 Canadians killed on French soil with no known graves

I would wish for all Canadians the opportunity to see this moving memorial, so important in the history of our nation.