Stark Veterans’ Week poster unveiled at Charlottetown school

Stark Veterans’ Week poster unveiled at Charlottetown school

Jim Day jim.day@theguardian.pe.ca
Published: Oct. 13, 2017, 7:35 p.m.


Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan, left, and Charlottetown Rural high school student Léo Han applaud after the Veterans’ Week poster was unveiled at Han’s school Friday morning. JIM DAY/THE GUARDIAN

Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan was in Charlottetown to unveil a stark poster marking Canada’s heavy contribution to a key First World War battle.

O’Regan was joined by Charlottetown Rural high school student Léo Han, a youth delegate for the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge held earlier this year, in unveiling the poster at Han’s school.

The Veterans’ Week poster depicts the muddy, crater-filled and desolate battlefield of Passchendaele in Belgium where the Canadian Corps, a 100,000 strong fighting formation, was ordered to the Passchedaele front, east of Ypres, in October 1917.

“This was a battle that saw all forward divisions of the Canadian Corps going in to action over the course of a hard fought struggle and they succeeded in the face of great adversity,’’ O’Regan told high school students gathered in Charlottetown Rural’s lecture theatre.

Victory came with a harsh toll: more than 4,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives and another 12,000-plus left the battlefield wounded.

“I’ll add to that, it’s something that we know today is that 12,000 left the battlefield physically wounded but we don’t know how many left mentally wounded,’’ said O’Regan.



Did you know?
Nine Canadian soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War - the highest award for military valour a Canadian can earn.



Veterans’ Week, which will be observed from Nov. 5 to 11, marks the centennial of Canada’s participation in the Battle of Passchendaele, which began on Oct. 26, 1917 and ended two weeks later.

“It gives everyone the opportunity to pay tribute to our men and women in uniform, to remember those who gave their lives and those who continue today to make the world a safer place,’’ said O’Regan.

“Every person who has lived in Canada in peace and security and everyone who has come to build a better life in our country has been able to do so because of our military men and women, because of our veterans, because of those who have lost their lives in the name of freedom.’’

“This year on Remembrance Day,’’ O’Regan added, “I hope all Canadians join us to take time and pause to pay tribute and to remember.’’

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/stark-veterans-week-poster-unveiled-at-charlottetown-school-155743/