I was fortunate enough to go to France and Germany when I was in Grade 12 on a highschool History trip. We saw Dachau concentration camp outside of Munich; we also went to Dieppe, Arras, and Vimy Ridge. At Vimy Ridge it was day of complicated emotions; one of pride of being Canadian seeing the Memorial and the thanks we, as Canadians who weren't alive then, received from the local citizenry; of profound sadness of the magnitude of death, not just of Canadians, but of all soldiers including German, for what was in essence dirt and cow dung; of bewilderment that Canadian men of our age gallantly went to battle and finding ourselves questioning if we could do the same if called upon us...... one assignment we had was to read Erich Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" which I highly recommend to all who have not read it.

One year in highschool I was part of a team charged with designing and staging the school's Remembrance Day Assembly. Having local dignitaries, legion members, and current military personnel in attendance was very special. We showed clips from the movie "Gallipolli" (which I also recommend) and played the "Peace on Earth" song performed by an international choir at the Closing Ceremonies of Expo 86 here in Vancouver.

I have also been fortunate to have visited PunchBowl National Cemetary in Oahu and Arlington Cemetary outside of Washington DC. Seeing the sacrifices of soldiers and thinking of the immeasurable cost of human life it certainly is a sobering exercise. All politics aside, let us remember and honour all soldiers, past and present, for their gallantry and honour in the name of duty.

Lest we Forget