Connie Wilson, who grew up in Carlyle, has been selected to represent the Saskatchewan Command of the Royal Canadian Legion this summer as part of a Legion Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will place Connie in France, Belgium and the Netherlands from July 9 to 23 to learn about the known events of WWI and II.
The pilgrimage will be one of remembrance, with the group touring the battle sites, monuments and cemeteries established to commemorate those that died in battle. "We are touring all of the cemeteries and monuments and kind of seeing what the battlefields were like. Seeing what the veterans went through and what they did. Some of the places we visit will have an act of remembrance and legion member ceremonies, just to kind of honour and remember their efforts" said Connie of the tour.
Connie applied for the Pilgrimage back in September. The Royal Canadian Legion sponsors this event every second year for Legion members throughout Canada. The aim is to send Legion members who have ties to the youth in their communities. The goal is to be able to pass this information on to the younger generations, so that they too, will always remember. Connie, who has been a member of the Tisdale Legion and acts as the Commanding Officer for the Tisdale Air Cadet Squadron, fills these requirements nicely.
This trip means more to Connie than just that of an educational nature. With a family member that fought and died in the war, Connie is looking forward to the experience in more ways then one. "It just so happens that I have a great great great uncle that fought and died over there. And now getting the stuff [tour package and materials] and reading it, I have actually found where he is buried. It is very special because before this, we didn't know."
And she wants to extend that service to others that are unable to make the trip. "I want to make an extra effort to try and take pictures of local ties, and get those photos to their family members. If I can bring it back and relate it to my hometown or my province that would be nice. And because we have all the resources and websites available to us now, if people don't know where their family member is buried, I can actually go and look it up. I can go in, see where they are and visit their burial place."
The trip is jam-packed with things to see and people to meet. The group will see 28 memorials, cemeteries and war cemeteries during their time there. Connie plans to make the most of her trip. "There are probably four or five cemeteries and monuments a day that we see every day. And we only have one day off. And that one day, we are at Ypres. And at Ypres is the In Flanders Field museum and the Cloth Hall and things like that. So I mean, I am not going to be sleeping. I am going to go to those things. I'll sleep on the plane ride there and the plane ride home, but the rest of the time, I'm going to see lots and learn lots."
"One of the places that we will be at is the Menin Gate Memorial and that is actually where my family member is. Every night, they have ceremonies. So imagine, 365 days a year, there are people organizing this, all of which are volunteers. They shut down the road every night that leads past the monument to honour these veterans. So I am sure it is going to be very emotional. It will be exhausting, but a really good exhaustion."
When asked what Connie is looking forward to the most, the options are endless. "Lots of things. Reading about it [WWI and WWII] has given me a real eye opener about the conditions that they went through. And you know, a lot of them were told that they would be home by Christmas and four years later, they were still there. I can't imagine that. Signing up to go for four or five months, and then you are still there fighting years later. So I think just to see that and where they were. Like to actually see it, rather than just reading about it. There are people there, that have dedicated their time to look after these monuments at the cemeteries, and keep them in such good condition. You know they really dedicate their time to honouring it. So to see that, will be very special."
Connie is looking for people that have family members that went over and fought in WWI and WWII. Ones that have either passed away as a result of fighting for their country and are buried there, or ones that survived and made their way home. She is always hoping to collect a few donations before she leaves. "Things like Saskatchewan flags or pins, things like that to either leave on the tombstone or give to those that have helped along the way. Things like that. Anything Saskatchewan related really."
The opportunity to participate in the pilgrimage comes with a great deal of responsibility. Passing the information on is one of the expectations set out for participants. Connie is looking forward to opportunity to share this information with other Legion members, schools and community organizations that are interested. She will be presenting her experience at the Provincial Convention in Moose Jaw in October, as well as providing talks around the province to help honour and remember the veterans and what they fought for.
Connie currently lives in Tisdale and works for the local ambulance. She asks that anyone who has family members that experienced these wars, contact her at [email protected] or at 873-2782. She feels very lucky to have this opportunity and hopes to be able to pass it on in any way she can.
