Vimy 1917-2017 : New Visitor Education Centre - France

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Vimy 1917-2017 : New Visitor Education Centre - France

Transcript

NARRATOR: The breathtaking Canadian National Vimy Memorial, designed by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Allward, stands as a tribute to all Canadians who served during the First World War. It represents service, sacrifice and courage. Le gouvernement du Canada assure l’entretien de ce lieu historique national. Dans le cadre de son engagement continu à honorer ceux et celles qui ont tant donné pendant la Première Guerre mondiale et à raconter leurs histoires aux milliers de visiteurs chaque année le gouvernement du Canada a versé cinq millions de dollars pour un nouveau Centre d’accueil et d’éducation. The Vimy Foundation, which helps preserve and promote Canada’s entire First World War legacy, raised an additional five million dollars for the construction of the centre. Des Canadiens de partout au pays par l’entremise de la Fondation Vimy ont offert leur soutien au projet dans le cadre d’initiatives de collectes de fonds et de dons individuels et corporatifs. Chaque donateur a ses propres raisons de soutenir ce nouveau Centre d’éducation des visiteurs. MADAME HELEN VARI: My beloved late husband, the Honourable George William Vari’s philosophy was that education is the most important thing and everything should be based on education. So this education centre will now serve as a place of respect and a memory for the thousands of fallen Canadian soldiers, our heroes, and most importantly, to study and to work for peace in the world. JOHN P. CARSWELL: My grandfather, James Morrison Carswell, was a private and then a sergeant with the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade and during the battle of Vimy Ridge, he was actually in headquarters and helped plan the machine gun barrage. So I knew a lot about Vimy. I was in the military myself. I was an air force officer like my father. And so I thought it was a good cause. And when you go to Vimy, you realize how terrible the conditions were and how brave the soldiers indeed were. ANDREW CARSWELL (Second World War Veteran): I think maybe they might think twice about getting involved in a war, you know, because when I was involved in the war, I just thought of what I saw in the movies and the heroic things that the fighter pilots did and so forth. What I learned about war is that it’s not very nice. NARRATOR: Offering a view over the trenches, the New Visitor Education Centre presents the experience and sacrifices of those who fought during the First World War and honours their memory. Thank you to all who have made this possible. MADAME HELEN VARI: Voyagez à Vimy. Visitez Vimy. Au revoir à Vimy. UN MESSAGE DU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA

Description

The breathtaking Canadian National Vimy Memorial, designed by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Allward, stands as a tribute to all Canadians who served during the First World War.

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