Clockwise from top: Students from across Canada remember the fallen while standing behind headstones in Canadian Cemetery No. 2 on Vimy Ridge; Patrick Baird displays his Vimy anniversary commemorative medal and green replica WW I tunic; Robbie Hart with his bandana prior to the ceremonies; Brody Levant sprinkles a bit of Canada on the grave of William Foord.

Cold silent names inscribed on sunlit stone, facing outwardly across a ridge through time–towards a congregation of youthful promise. It was the perfect meeting of past and present: the ghosts and distant memories of a historic battle cast with the youth of Canada today.

It is estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 students journeyed from schools throughout the provinces and territories to the famous ridge overlooking the Douai Plain in northern France, where they stood–wedged shoulder to shoulder–on a sun-drenched battlefield in front of the great monument they had up to then only read about.

But being there on April 9, 2007, to breathe in the Battle of Vimy Ridge’s 90th anniversary ceremony–as well as the grandeur of Walter S. Allward’s towering memorial–wasn’t enough for many of the kids, because they had also embarked on a personal quest–handed to them by their teachers–to not only learn more about the battle and what it meant to Canada, but to research, remember and represent a Canadian who served at Vimy.

Research into “their soldier” began months before–in classrooms, libraries and at home in front of the computer. They visited public archives, talked to relatives of “their soldier” and felt like they had honestly “struck gold” when they discovered old letters, diaries, attestation papers and medical reports. One girl was especially proud of the fact that her soldier had a birthmark. Some were lucky enough to find an old address and then go and visit the house the soldier was born in.

Others experienced the researcher’s frustration of tangling with red tape or “hitting a brick wall.” Some simply had to accept the fact that their biographies would remain sparse–without the tidbits of personal information they were hoping to find. Did he have a girlfriend? Did he play sports? What were his dreams and passions? What colour was his hair?

Many students got around this by concentrating on the range of emotions “their soldier” may have felt while heading off to war–the idea of leaving loved ones behind, of not knowing whether you would live or die or be terribly wounded. Those who took that approach expressed their views in another way–through art, poetry or song.

“My soldier’s name is Rob Alexander,” explained Grade 10 student Sarah Mueller of Port Perry, Ont. “I wasn’t able to find out where he was from, but I did learn that he died at Vimy. I wrote a poem about him because I thought that would be a kind of elegant epitaph. The poem is less about the valour–and the celebration of war–than it is about how horrible it must have been–the pain he must have felt.”

“All of these meaningful things added greatly to the students’ understanding of the soldier they are representing,” said Dave Robinson, the national organizer and leader of the Return To Vimy Tour, the largest of more than a dozen student groups at the ceremony. “Their research made the history come alive–it added that important other dimension that you don’t always get from history books. They got to know their soldier as a living, breathing person who loved and was loved, and who was willing to die for his country in a place far from home.”

Lethbridge, Alta., teacher David Fletcher agreed that the connections between the students and “their soldiers” were personal and strong. “For a brief moment the three and a half thousand men who sacrificed their lives at Vimy were resurrected by the youth of our nation. It was as if the kids were filled with the emotion and energy of those souls that had been at rest for 90 years.”

The representations of lives lost also included some who fought in other battles during the war, although it was Robinson’s original intention to have 3,598 students–one for every soldier killed during the four-day battle–his group involved nearly 1,700 students from more than 80 schools, plus a large number of adults, including group leaders, parents and medical staff.

Port Perry High School history teacher Nancy Hamer Strahl and co-op student Ryan Gilmour shared the task of creating a database of soldiers’ names that were provided to them by Gary Roncetti, who has a deep love of military history. The idea was that every school across Canada could select the names of soldiers who served from their area and then assign one name to every student bound for Vimy. “There was a master list, and the students were given the choice of researching and representing someone from that list, or researching and representing a relative who served in the war.”

Young Patrick Baird was representing his great-great uncle Amos Stone, who is buried not far from Vimy at Monchy-le-Preux. “He worked on a farm a lot. He went over to France and, well, we have all the letters and journals. The first journal entry was in 1917, but he died on Sept. 13, 1918. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel, and I have a letter that gives the details. He was a stretcher-bearer and one of his friends went down. He knew first aid and so he decided to go and help his friend. He was supposed to stay down for protection, but he got up and ran over and that was when he was hit and killed instantly. He was just 17 or 18.”

During a brief stop at the cemetery, the young man from Port Perry buried a little guardian angel–something his mother had given him–at his great-great uncle’s grave. “I was really glad I could actually do that,” he said. “Right now I feel happy and proud.”

Regardless of the various forms it took, the research came together on the ridge and was seen by the thousands in attendance as a very large and colourful commitment to remembrance. Prior to the main anniversary ceremony that featured the Queen, Prince Philip, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, the students gathered at Canadian Cemetery No. 2–not far from the memorial. There, each of them stood in silence behind the grave of a soldier. And on the top of each white headstone they placed a poppy. “I was amazed by how many students there were,” said Deneige Nadeau of Lethbridge. “Many of the graves we stood behind were for soldiers who were never identified. Walking out of the cemetery and seeing all the red poppies…made me realize how many people were lost…and how these soldiers were not much older than us.”

The students, some teary-eyed and trembling with emotion, listened to tributes written by a selection of their peers. The main event in the cemetery, was the unveiling of a memorial time capsule, filled with their stories, songs, poems and artwork. Built by the Port Perry H.S. manufacturing class under the guidance of Bob Porter, the capsule is to remain on display at Vimy for visitors to see.

It was a significant contribution from Canada’s youth, and even before the unveiling ceremony, which featured Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, students were vowing to return to Vimy in 10 years–for the 100th anniversary–to read or view again what they had contributed to the capsule.

The Veterans Affairs minister paid his respects to the Canadians who died in the battle, and the thousands of other Canadians killed during the war, including those who have no known grave. “Such large numbers are almost impossible to comprehend,” he told the students. “Yet we know how terrible the loss was for Canada. How would our country be different today if those 66,000 Canadians had lived? What would they have achieved? How might they have changed our country? Yet at the same time we must ask ourselves how different our country might be today, how different our world might be if those…Canadians had not made their sacrifice for peace, freedom–for you and me?”

Thompson said these are questions Canadians need to ask whenever they trace the footsteps of those who served. “When we do that,” he added, “we understand just how enormous the debt is we owe to them. You, however, have gone one step further in your remembering. You have looked beyond the numbers and discovered the individuals–ordinary Canadians, many not much older than yourselves….”

Hamer Strahl said she had a great sense of pride when she looked around and saw all the students standing behind headstones, all of them wearing their green WW I replica army tunics with the name of “their soldier” printed over the front, left pocket. “It really shows that the youth of Canada are very capable of remembering, and that they will go above and beyond that to do something that is very symbolic…. I think it says that they are willing to take responsibility–to take care of these soldiers…and with that a kinship has developed between the students. They have all been here to share the same experience, and as they get older they will be able to say, I was there.”

For Robinson, the most memorable moment came later in the day when he turned around to look at the thousands of students marching in a long green column–at least 10 across–along the road leading to the front of the memorial where they were cheered by the waiting crowd. “Nothing will ever take away the feeling I had when I saw that.”

A day earlier Robinson explained that, in education, every teacher lives for what are called “teachable” moments. “On a trip like this they occur when you see that your students are getting it. You see it in their eyes–the light in their eyes–the glistening of their tears. I live for these moments because they tell you as a teacher that they will never lose what they’ve learned for the rest of their lives.”

The comments from students bear that out. “Travelling to the Vimy Memorial and attending the 90th anniversary ceremonies has left me with an amazing new respect for all soldiers: past or present, fallen or still fighting,” said Lisa Mitschke of Langenburg, Sask.

“Being afforded the opportunity to see where it all began for Canada was truly amazing,” said Katie Bergman, also of Langenburg. “Although I was thousands of miles away from home, I never in my lifetime felt so Canadian than I did at Vimy Ridge. Standing there united with 3,600 students from my country in front of the chilling memorial allowed me to renew my patriotism, this time understanding what it really means to be Canadian.”

Fellow Langenburg student Garrett Yeske said the experience will be something he will remember for the rest of his life. “All Canadians should be extremely proud of what these brave young men gave up for this country.”

“I think it is really important for us to remember what happened and what people had to go through for us to have peace in Canada today,” offered student Rebecca Jensen of Port Perry, who had the honour and privilege of reciting the Commitment To Remember during the nationally televised ceremony.

Lethbridge, Alta., student Danielle Bourgon said she had many thoughts rushing through her head as the bus she was on headed toward Vimy that morning. She said she wondered whether other students would be as excited as she was, and whether she would do herself and her family proud. But more importantly, she wondered whether she would be able to do Private George Browne proud. “I knew that the whole reason I was at Vimy was in order to represent him to the best of my ability. It was this privilege and responsibility that scared and excited me the most. As the hours dwindled down, the fear began overpowering the excitement to the point where I seriously doubted I would be able to stand, let alone represent an incredibly brave soldier of WW I.”

Her fear subsided when one of the supervisors on the bus simply reminded everyone that when they pass over Vimy Ridge they would no longer be who they are. Instead, they would be the soldiers they came to represent.

“When they march, they will no longer be our students,” explained Robinson moments before the big parade. “The students will be the soldiers they are representing. We (the adults on the trip) will be there for them–if needed–but the moment belongs to the soldiers, and that is what the students are bringing to this anniversary.”

Robinson said he had heard someone say that the student pilgrimage will mark a turning point in Canadian history. “Maybe that’s a bit overstated, but it definitely is a chance for Canada to realize that Canadian history is now well out in the open, shared by many, many young people who are honouring the commitment to remembrance.”

“It is a great, great honour to be here,” added Heather Shearer of Cannington, Ont. “It is important for us to pass on what we learn to our friends back home, and to our own kids when we get older.”

“You get such a great sense of honour and pride when you see where they fought,” said Derrick Cochrane of Port Perry, who researched his great-great- grandfather Henry Robert Brown. “I am also impressed by the beauty of the monument.”

Vanessa Poitevien of Ottawa was representing a soldier named Eric B. Eden, who died on the battlefield not far from where she was standing for the anniversary ceremony. “He was only 18.”

Gayane Panosian, also of Ottawa, was born in Iran and, like many of her friends, she discovered why it is so important to appreciate the contributions of servicemen and women. “Most people don’t really get educated about this. By being here I feel we are really making a connection with history and more importantly with the people who served.”

Amanda Morrissey of St. Paul’s School in St. John’s, Nfld., wrote a poem about her soldier and was one of five students selected from across Canada to read–in front of thousands of people–what she had prepared. Looking back at the visit she said it was “extremely moving to see the battlefields where so many Canadian soldiers died.” She said the visits to the various museums during the tour helped tell the story of the soldiers’ lives and what they endured.

Young Brody Levant said the connection he made will last a lifetime. At Bois-Carré British War Cemetery, which is situated on the southern slopes of the ridge, near the village of Thélus, he stood in front of the grave of a soldier named William Albert Foord. He read aloud a letter from the soldier’s younger sister, Alice–now 98. He also sprinkled a small amount of Canadian soil retrieved from a garden belonging to Alice’s daughter, Linda. “Dear Bill,” the letter began, “the last time I wrote, you were in France. I just remembered that you would be 110 years old if you were alive today. I look very different from the last day you saw me at the railway station, as we waved goodbye in 1914. I was five and you were 18. Everyone was crying as the train pulled out.”

In the letter, Alice said she has never forgotten her brother. “When the war broke out you felt you had to go and fight for king and country, and help save the world. The cost was great. It was a war to save the world, but Bill it didn’t. You took that ridge at Vimy, but it cost nearly 4,000 lives to do it–every one precious to his family in Canada.”

She wrote that her brother wouldn’t know the world of today. “We had bombs in 1914, but now they are much more destructive. We also have televisions and we can sit and watch war as it happens.”

Before closing her letter, Alice told her brother that she has a son named after him, and she wanted the soil sprinkled on his grave so there would be “a little bit of Canada to cover you.”

Levant, who is only 12, said it was an honour to complete Alice’s wishes. “Now that I’ve been to the grave it feels like her brother is part of me. It feels like her brother is a best friend now.”

Organizing tours of this magnitude is not something new for Robinson and his team of volunteers, who have had great success with educational travel tours. In 2004, he led a tour to Juno Beach for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings. A year and a half ago he took a large contingent of students to Hong Kong to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the release of Canadian prisoners from Japanese PoW camps. In 2008, he plans to lead thousands of students to Ortona, Italy, to mark the contributions Canadian soldiers made there in 1943. For the more recent tours he has relied on the tour company Explorica.

The huge volume of students and other pilgrims heading to Vimy was a transportation challenge, involving a variety of connections. Many flew to Paris or London, and then followed various routes to the ridge with numerous visits to wartime sites. For many students it was their first time in Europe, let alone their first visit to a battlefield.

Robinson said the student participation at Vimy will stay with him forever. “I said many months ago that they would come, and they did. I am very proud of the way they represented their schools, their communities and their country. And when they return home, I am sure they will look at the world a little differently. I expect that when I get back home I’ll be getting e-mails from their parents asking, ‘what did you do to my child?'”

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