Vimy Ridge Rededication Ceremony - April 9th, 2007

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Early on April 9th, 2007, Canadians by the bus load began arriving at the Vimy Ridge <br />Memorial in anticipation of the 90th Anniversary Redication ceremonies. The crowds wanted to visit the memorial, but polite Gendarmes <br />kept the crowds away until after the ceremony. Sarah and Dad, with one of the many friends we met that day. Security was tight as we made our way around to the front of the <br />Memorial, in time to find a good seat for the ceremony. The shell scared landscape around the memorial. The Vimy Memorial as seen from the side road down to the viewing area. WWII Veteran color guard The clouds added a dramatic backdrop to the Memorial... as the guests arrived to fill every available seat. The view from the area reserved for 5,000 Canadian students. The press were ready... and finally the students arrive... all 5,000 of them... from across the Country... each one representing a soldier who died during the battle for Vimy Ridge. Even the CBC was there. Sarah showed off her colours... this young fellow showed his respect. A member of Canada's Airborne dropped in... and at last, the rest of the dignitaries arrived. Laureen Harper, Mr. Dominique de Villepin (the Prime Minister of France), <br />Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and Stephen Harper, <br />the Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper giving his opening address. Her Majesty the Queen, with her address... to rededicate the Vimy Ridge Memorial on its 90th Anniversary. The Last Post The Lament The Piper, a familiar sight to soldiers of Canadian <br />Scottish regiments on the battlefield. And to mark the end of the ceremony, a dramatic flyover by four French Mirage fighters... which provided a stirring finale to a very remarkable day. And so the memorable ceremony came to an end... and crowds flocked back to the memorial itself... where soon the figure of Canada had lots of admiring company. The viewing area, as seen from the Memorial. Crowds gathering together for group shots... and everyone very proud to have been part of this event. It felt good to be a Canadian that day. Sarah, very happy to have been there. And for Sarah's Dad, a year long dream come true. The Vimy Memorial, on the 90th anniversary of the capture of Vimy Ridge <br />by four Divisions of the Canadian Corp during WW1. A truely magnificent masterpiece. Our last glimpse of the memorial. It may be a long time before we see it again.