Vimy Week Stories - Parker Hillman

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                                      Service by Parker Hillman

I will always and forever be grateful for the service our brave Canadian soldiers made in both the First and Second World Wars. I do not believe that we can ever fully comprehend the sacrifices they made for us. Their actions were not simply brave or bold, they were heroic. During my time participating in the 2023 Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, I was able to physically immerse myself in the history that I and so many Canadians hold near to our hearts. Experiencing historical war sites firsthand across France, Belgium and the Netherlands, truly changed my outlook on the wars and instilled in me more gratitude and respect for the heroes that fought for our freedom. Although visiting the other side of the world for the first time was an exhilarating experience, I felt–and continue to feel–that I was not only traveling across countries with the 2023 BVP to just learn and participate in the program; I was mainly participating in this program as an act of service to the soldiers that gave up their lives for us and for our current community back home. Despite the nearly millions of names and graves we visited, I attempted to demonstrate my acknowledgment and appreciation towards as many soldiers as I could that were honoured at the sites we visited. I worked to educate myself to the best of my ability, to remember the stories we heard of all the soldiers and to picture the beautiful lives every engraved name had before resting in the ground, thousands of kilometers from home. I felt as though it was my responsibility to passionately commemorate the soldiers who served so long ago. It was also my duty to return home with the vast and unique information I held surrounding the events of the war and share it with my peers and my community.

During the week of remembrance, I gave a presentation of my experience of the BVP to numerous schools in my community. Just like the soldiers who enlisted last century, I felt the need to provide for my community to benefit our society. My act of service was to share with the youth of my city the importance of recognizing the most valiant act of service committed in the history of our country by countless selfless individuals. In my presentation, I educated youth on Canada’s historic battles, yet I mainly concentrated on the experiences and stories of soldiers. My goal was to make the war a little more comprehensible to young minds and help them understand that it was not merely soldiers fighting for us but people with real lives. I taught them about my great-great-grandfather, David Hamilton, who fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, to demonstrate to the students the realism of the wars. It is important that we keep passing on this historical information for generations for society as a whole to continue to learn from the world's faults and so that the soldiers who gave up so much for us will never be forgotten. 

To me, service is about putting your own needs and responsibilities aside to help your community and the people around you. These brave men and women who fought for us presented the noblest service one can offer; which is why I believe that I, along with others, can contribute and continue with acts of service toward society to honour the selfless and unimaginable service our soldiers provided for us. It is essential that as a whole we continue to commemorate our troops, especially on other occasions of remembrance like Vimy Ridge Day. As a community, we must continue to learn and reflect on the stories of the soldiers who fought for us so that they are continuously

honoured for their sacrifice. By participating and reflecting on more commemorative days than Remembrance Day we can eliminate the loss of history. We must continue to educate ourselves and our youth on the history of the war and the sacrifices that were made. We can also visit local war memorials in our area and even volunteer for local Canadian Legion branches. Any action that promotes the recognition and appreciation of the First and Second World War soldiers is an exceptional and impactful way of commemorating and serving your community in honour of those who served. I believe it is our job to owe it back to the soldiers who fought for us by serving our community through commemoration and acknowledgment of historical moments that transpired through both wars.

Let us never forget.

• -Parker Hillman