The Menin Gate and the Ypres Area
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2009
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12
16
Trip End
Jul 25, 2009
Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
There are 3 names that I was able to locate on The Menin Gate that are listed on our cenotaph here in Port Colborne. They are William J. Alkins, H.R. French and Richard Rooth. Joe scouted them out and was able to place a small Canada pin beside each name and take a photo of them early in the morning of July 21st. This place is very impressive...in an erie kind of way. It seems to encapsulate the energy of 55,000 young men. I get a sense that it almost vibrates. In fact the acoustics of the place do make sound reverberate and there is a sense of vibration.
Our Pilgrimage group attended the cemermony at The Menin Gate on Monday, July 20th. There were troops from Britain participating in the ceremony, laying a wreath and marching forward (in threes) to salute smartly. They were lined up well in advance and I was watching them...with my keen mother/teacher eye, for signs of stress...feeling their anticipation, wanting to go over to them and give them some small sign of encouragement...just to let them know how wonderful they looked and how proud I am of them (I can't help it, it's pretty much what I do). They didn't flinch and I was very impressed. They looked so sharp and confident, but on the way back from the salute... one in the second row, the one in the middle, the tall one, was using every ounce of all the strength he had not to break down weeping...his face was contorting with the effort and that's when I lost it. It is a very powerful experience...honouring the war dead...in their multitude, in a place like this.
And then the band played...not Waltzing Matilda, but what seemed like a very familiar hymn which I knew the tune to but not the words....no one was singing. I guess singing just isn't done at The Menin Gate. Who could sing any way...everyone was choked up.
The next night, July 21st, we hoped to be able to participate in the ceremony. We were briefed at dinner that there was a possibility that we might not be able to participate in the official ceremony, but that if that were the case, we would linger afterwards and do our own private remembrance ceremony. You would think that something like this Menin Gate Ceremony would be planned well in advance and that things would be pretty much tied up, but no. At the last minute we were given the heads up and we were part of the official ceremony. We were pretty "stoked". Only people dressed in Legion dress were allowed to participate so that meant that Jamie would not be pushing his Dad in his wheel chair. I was supposed to be part of the colour party, but I really didn't want that role; there is no way I could look as sharp as those British Troopers the night before so I handed off my colour party duties to an ex military member of our group. I was thrilled to be able to line up with Dick (Jamie's Dad) and Brenda. With Brenda and I on either side of him, Dick would not need a wheel chair. Dick is one of the finest, most gentle men I have ever met. It was an honour to march with him. The icing on the cake for that evening was the piper that appeared unexpectedly and played the lament. Not sure where he came from. It seemed like a special gift. I heard someone say he was wearing a Canadian barret. The Piper was a really nice touch.
It is amazing how close we have all become on this pilgrimage. We are starting to feel like family. Saying good bye will be difficult.
Comments
We were staying in Boulogne and a couple of Canadians were having breakfast with us. It was, if I recall correctly, early October. They gave us two Canadian poppy pins. We wear them now every armistice day. We were in France for a break but this couple were so involved in the desire to see and honour the war dead that it has now become a pilgramage for us. We will be there on 26th November 2009 visiting Ypres. Circumstances stopped us being there on the 11th.
We are 60 years old and these hero's gave us the freedom to live as we have in exchange for their lives.
We should all remember.
Dave and Linda Wynn
Thanks for your input. I can understand the desire of the Canadian couple you met because as a nation we have relatively little history on our own soil...that we can see and explore, but when we go to Europe and see what Canadian boys have done, the role that average (and some not so average) Canadians have played to make a difference we are very proud and honoured to be in their presence... we have a desire to be close to these young men who gave their lives for the betterment of others on the other side of the world.