by Evan Wheeler, Grade 11, Corner Brook Regional High School, Corner Brook, NL

We saw the amazing memorial at Vimy Ridge today. There were so many students from all across Canada, from Newfoundland all the way to British Columbia. We first took a silent march which I thought was incredible to walk from the village of Givenchy, with thousands of other students, to the Vimy Memorial. It poured rain at the ceremony and it was very cold. It made me think about the even worse conditions the soldiers had to fight through 95 years ago. To think that real people fought and died on the ground you stood on was amazing. The ceremony also made me understand how Canada became a nation because of this battle and made me proud to be a Canadian. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience Vimy and I think all Canadians should try to visit this amazing site.

We visited the Beaumont Hamel site and it was amazing. We got to see the plaque with so many names  and I even found the name of a soldier I was researching and that was incredible. We always see pictures of these monuments but you never get the overwhelming feeling as you do when you experience it first-hand. I was proud to be able to stand where Newfoundland soldiers fought for our freedom. I think everyone, especially Newfoundlanders, should visit this site first-hand. It is important that we never forget what our ancestors did for our freedom.