Royal Canadian Legion

Vimy Ridge Day Ceremony 2011

On 09 April we attended a very moving ceremony to commemorate this famous battle where Canadians done what others could not; Capture Vimy Ridge. The ceremony was held in the late afternoon under ideal conditions on a warm sunny day. The ceremony was well organized and participation was good. Our presence was acknowledged by the organizing committe and the many dignateries present. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion by the Deputy Zone Commander Josh Gelinas. Following the ceremony a reception was held in Vimy where we had the opportunity to chat with Canadians most notably the Canadian Military Members that were in attendance from SHAPE and the Medical Detachment from Landstuhl.

Pryor to attending the Vimy Ceremony we had the oppurtunity to visit the nearby La Chaudière Military Cemetery and pay our respects where two Canadian World War I Soldiers were identified and Buried.

In 2003 they found 2 soldiers near Avion (France, near Vimy) who died during WWI. In 2007 one of them was identified as 808723 Private Herbert Peterson of Berry Creek, Alberta and buried at La Chaudière Military Cemetery. The second soldier was identified in 2011 as being 183425 Private Thomas Lawless from Calgary, Alberta. He was finally laid to rest next to his comrade on 9 March 2011.

The following photos of the burial courtesy of ©2011 Steve Douglas, Maple Leaf Legacy Project.