On Feb. 12, the Thompson Legion Ladies Auxiliary donated $2,000 to a group of R.D. Parker Collegiate students who are travelling to Europe in May to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War
Tour leader Teresa Jenkins, an RDPC social studies teacher, said the group will travel through the Netherlands, Belgium and France “to learn about Canadian sacrifice and Canadian involvement in World War I and II.”
“On their tour they will visit the Anne Frank House, where the young girl hid with her family from 1942 to 1944 – and where she penned the poignant diary that has been translated into dozens of languages worldwide,” Jenkins explained in an email. “The students will participate in the Victory in Europe (VE) ceremonies where the Netherlands participate in a two-minute moment of silence for Remembrance Day. At the VE Day remembrance ceremony at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the students will join fellow Canadians and the local community in memorializing those who fell during the Second World War, and celebrate the Liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian forces.”
Jenkins also said the students will visit Vimy Ridge and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele.
“Afterwards, they will travel to Essex Farm, the location where Lt. Col. John McCrae penned the famous and haunting war poem ‘In Flanders Fields,’” said Jenkins. “Afterwards, the students head to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, built to commemorate and honour all of the soldiers from Newfoundland and Labrador who were killed during the First World War. From there they transfer to Normandy, the location of many of the battles that turned the course of World War II and visit the Juno Beach Centre.”
The students will view a brick that has been purchased to commemorate their visit to Juno Beach.
“During this time, students will visit Beny-sur-Mer Cemetery to give thanks to our fallen soldiers,” she said. “They will end their tour in Paris. R.D. Parker Collegiate, the teachers, students and parents would like to thank the Legions Ladies for their continuing support and encouragement in learning about Canada’s role in World War I and II. The Legion Ladies supported us in 2019 when they allowed us to help host the Remembrance Day Tea.”
