Thank you to Josephine Selkirk for her letter describing the Canadian battle at Vimy Ridge. I had the opportunity to visit the Canadian memorial at Vimy this past February. It was a very moving experience to say the least. My grandfather and two great uncles fought at Vimy Ridge and survived. My teenage son and I stood in the tunnel where they, as teenagers, likely stood just prior to risking their lives for us on the battlefield. The Canadian memorial is magnificent and has been beautifully renewed by the federal government. The feds also provide bilingual students to act as guides and interpreters and ambassadors who epitomize all that is great about Canada. The memorial stands as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of so many young men and to the futility and horror of war. It also stands as a reminder of the need to be ever vigilant in our defense of the freedoms that these men and the men and women of later generations sacrificed their lives for. Vimy helped to define a young Canada that would grow up to be one of the most peaceful and respected countries in the world. Let's ensure that our politicians respect the integrity and reputation of our country, a legacy that cost us dearly.
Greg Beattie
Yorkshire, UK
