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By: Doug Hemstreet
A visit final 12 months to key Canadian battle websites in Europe has given me renewed perspective for Remembrance Day.
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Some relations and I have been a part of a delegation taking part in celebrations in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, that honour Canadian troops who liberated the area through the Battle of the Scheldt in November 1944.
Occasions started with a Saturday morning service at an area church. After Mass, our delegation marched down municipal streets led by the “For Freedom Pipes and Drums Band” to a cenotaph within the centre of city and opening ceremonies. The sight of Canadian flags hanging from balconies all over the place could be very humbling and illustrates the immense gratitude the residents of this area have in the direction of all Canadians.
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Our subsequent cease was the Canadian conflict cemetery in Adegem for a solemn ceremony amongst tons of of graves of our fallen troopers. Knokke-Heist’s For Freedom Museum, a exceptional facility constructed by brothers Dan and Fred Jones, was our remaining cease of the day. The shows and scenes they’ve created utilizing mannequins outfitted in army uniforms and weapons and even with tanks on show places you proper into the scenes.
Sunday morning we travelled throughout the border to the Dutch city of Hoofdplaat on the banks of the Scheldt River for the Canadian Liberation March. Regaining Allied management of the Scheldt estuary was crucial to the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany as it will permit the free circulation of arms and tools into the strategic port of Antwerp. As we walked within the annual march after a short ceremony we met many fellow Canadians, Dutch and Flemish individuals, all with identical shared spirit.
Monday noticed us in Dunkirk, France. The seashore is kind of huge, however it’s exhausting to think about 338,000 Allied troops trapped on the shore in Could and June 1940, desperately ready to be rescued.
Later, whereas enroute to our rental within the village of Mont-Saint-Eloi, phrases can not describe the sight of the Canadian Nationwide Vimy Memorial all lit up within the distance as dusk got here.
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Tuesday we visited the Vimy Memorial with its spectacular customer’s centre staffed by Canadian college college students. It was great to see kids on a category journey, studying in regards to the sacrifices made for our freedom.
Approaching the monument on our personal after our official tour ended, you possibly can’t assist however mirror on how horrific this April 1917 battle will need to have been. The significance of the strategic vantage level the excessive ridge offered was very evident.
The day was cloudy and breezy, however so very quiet. The plush inexperienced lawns surrounding the large monument conceal the scars of the battlefield of greater than a century in the past, however massive purple indicators stating “DANGER No Entry Undetonated Explosives” put the entire expertise in perspective.
It was a day I’ll bear in mind for the remainder of my life. I strongly encourage all Canadians to make the journey to Vimy — the expertise will make you very proud to be Canadian.
We discovered later that Mont-Saint-Eloi had strategic significance through the First World Battle. When you go to the realm, go to the ruins of the Abbey, stroll to the again of the property, and once you attain the fence look to your left. Within the distance you will note the Vimy Monument — this sight left me speechless.
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Wednesday was for Dieppe. This oceanside city holds particular that means to Windsorites as so lots of our personal residents gave their lives right here. The Essex Scottish Regiment landed 553 troops on Purple Seaside on August 19, 1942 — solely 51 can be evacuated again to England. An actual duplicate of the monument right here stands at Dieppe Gardens on Windsor’s personal waterfront, paying tribute to our fallen heroes.
Thursday we visited the Beaumont-Hamel Memorial to study in regards to the brave males of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who suffered nice losses on July 1, 1916.
On Friday, Nov. 11, we visited the Groesbeek Canadian Battle Cemetery. Because the Final Submit performed, a lone Spitfire flew previous and spun round as soon as to honour people who paid the last word sacrifice — a very becoming option to conclude our journey.
I imagine Remembrance Day is about exhibiting respect to those that serve our nation, previous and current, and about consciousness. The extra we are able to train our youth in regards to the previous — the higher the possibility we have now to not repeat it.
Doug Hemstreet is a Windsor resident.
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