Journey Of A Lifetime

by Emily Fallows, Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School

We arrived at the Bergen Op Zoom Cemetery. The white tombstones were evenly spaced in neat rows. I walked down the middle of the field, and was overwhelmed by all of the Canadian lives lost for our country.

I noticed a few tombstones had no name. Even though the bodies could not be identified, their sacrifice is still represented and honoured. One of these soldiers had died when he was just 16. This boy, someone younger than me, had died bravely in battle for his country and others.

Each one of these tombstones was for a person with a family and loved ones. They were fighting for their country; fighting to help others.

Before today I had learned and memorized facts about the world wars, for good marks on a history test. The reality of those facts didn’t really impact me fully until I attended the Vimy Ridge Trip offered by Education First Tours.

Twenty three students including myself, and four teachers; Mr. Healy, Mrs. Healy, Madame Zito, and Mr. Woods, went on the nine day trip to witness the 100th anniversary for the battle of Vimy Ridge. We travelled to Paris, Arras, Lille, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Berlin, visiting various monuments, cemeteries, events, and much more related to both world wars.

I had the privilege of attending this trip and learned so much interesting history from my experience abroad. In addition, I became very close friends with my fellow students and teachers, as we all partook in this emotional journey.

I will never forget this experience, and I will never forget what Canadians did for our country so many years ago, and their ultimate sacrifice.