Remember Always...

The sights that we saw were incredible, some were overwhelmingly sad and others were a celebration of life, not just ours but of the soldiers that we were studying. We have had the opportunity of a lifetime; the chance to see first hand what so many men did and died for. We got to see the battlefields were courageous battles were fought, where fearless young and old men lost their lives.  We had the chance to dress up and attempt to feel as the soldiers once felt and the conditions they endured. We jumped into the trenches with the vigor and enthusiasm of so many young men, but we were there to study their sacrifice and to learn a valuable lesson in remembrance and why it is so important in this day and age.

We were able to see into the soldier’s lives through individual and group presentations, learning about their families and lives before they bravely enlisted. The reasons behind the men’s enlistment are varied, but what it comes down to is doing what they thought was right for their families.  Whether they needed money or just thought it would be a great adventure that would be over by Christmas.  

Every cemetery was full of stories that we had no idea of, what and why did they enlist? How did they die? Did the have families, wives, children? The questions we all asked ourselves each time we stood at the plot of a young soldier.  I wish that I could tell every soldiers story, not just Canadian soldiers, but of every brave man who fought, including the Germans. Every one them fought for a reason and the ones who lie in cemeteries paid the ultimate price, but why? Even the men who came home fought with nightmares, shell shock (Post traumatic Stress Disorder) and the fact that they watched the carnage of war first hand.

 

As I walked through each cemetery my heart sank, the inscriptions on the stones brought so many tears to my eyes, so many were of hope and of love. The respect that I felt for the men below my feet was immense. They had given up so much just so that everybody would be safe and the world would hopefully be a better place. This was supposed to be “The War to End all Wars”, but we know that it wasn’t.  I know that many people have thought that the World War one soldiers lost their lives in vain, but I think differently. I believe that every soldier was there because they had little choice; the pressure of society was too much to bear. You were considered a coward if you didn’t enlist. Many soldiers were poor and needed to something, anything to feed their growing families.

This trip has been eye opening and a beautiful lesson in remembrance and what truly happened in World War One.  We had insight into so many different places, including French and German Cemeteries. We also had the chance to visit museums and wonderful memorials. The monuments built for the men truly to give honour and valor to them.

By giving students the chance to see everything, gives us the chance to spread the desire of remembrance. The seed has been planted and I know that I personally will become a history teacher and I will focus on the importance of Remembrance. I will not make it just one day of the year but of everyday. Canadian Students must understand the sacrifice made for them, because they don’t have the chance to see the endless rows of graves, such as the British and French Students. It is our duty to the men that we saw to sow the seeds of history and let them grow in the minds of many.

Thank you for the invaluable opportunity and making me only want to become a Teacher more.

Hannah Perry