Approaching the imposing white monument at the end of the long road is a sobering experience. Extending over 27 metres above the base, and over 110 metres above the plains where the small town rests, the monument is in view for kilometres in all directions.
Vimy Ridge, where thousands of Canadians fought for the freedom of their French brothers, is the ultimate monument to the bravery of the young soldiers.
As I walked from the road towards the monument, the air felt heavy. I was almost able to feel the pain that occurred there.
The white limestone used for the base and twin pylons shone in the morning sun, a beacon of remembrance. The ground around the monument still showed the scars of the battle, almost 100 years later. Massive craters, tunnels and preserved trenches are in every direction.
From afar, the surface of the monument looks smooth, but as I stepped onto the monument’s lower steps, I could see what was inscribed into the base and sides of the limestone. More than 11,000 names of Canadians, all who died in France and whose resting place is unknown. The number of names seems endless.
At the front of the monument, a statue of a woman stands solemnly, away from the rest, facing away from the grand structure behind her. She rests her chin on her hand, looking down, weeping. She’s the Spirit of Canada, and she looks towards a grave at the base of the monument: her fallen sons. She represents how we should all feel about the battle, an overwhelming sadness for the brave, young soldiers who died here. She bears a promise, as all Canadians should, to never forget the sacrifice these men made. She stands protecting her sons for eternity.
The large expanse of land given to Canada by the French government includes much more than just the monument. Two separate graveyards host over 3,000 allied casualties from the First World War, nearly 400 of whom were Canadians who died at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The rows of headstones made a wave of emotions wash over me. I couldn’t help but feel an immense gratitude for the men buried there. They selflessly died so others could live, and they expected no thanks.
Canadians should remember all those soldiers, all the Canadians who never made it home – all the Canadians whose gravestones only read: “A Soldier of the Great War, Known Unto God.”
