Maple trees deepen Canada-France bond

Commemoration sends patriotism over the moon, writes Bruce Stock.

Paul and Barbara Ann Gagnon of London, Ont., wanted to find a new way of paying tribute to the magnificent sacrifices of Canadian soldiers and French civilians, whose villages were saved by the indomitable presence of Canada’s First Word War troops.

They had an undeniable advantage. They were leaders in Canadian tree development and production and had established international clientele.

They chose several brands of Canadian maples and, with the help of 50 volunteer Canadian Scouts, Girl Guides and their leaders, Larry Fleet and Barbara Robinson, respectively, they planted 500 red, silver and regal petticoat Canadian maple trees, to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge in 2017 — at no cost to the 17 villages that benefitted.

One year later, those French villages invited the Gagnons back. They knew the Gagnons would add meaning to their celebrations of the Armistice’s 100th anniversary, Nov. 9-12. A group of us joined the journey. During our visit, we stayed in a large farmhouse, L’oreille du bois, in the village of Villers au Bois, population 620. During the First World War, more than 12,000 Canadians lived in military camps built in the area. The Villers au Bois population in 1914 was 150. Today’s ancestors tell us it was the Canadians who saved their village and the others in the area. When they expressed their appreciation of Canadians and love for Canada, we knew it was heartfelt.

We visited Cherisy, population 340. It was there in 1918, during the Battle of Cherisy, that Capt. Georges Vanier lost his right leg. Forty-one years later, he was chosen as our second Canadian governor general, as well as our first francophone GG. The Cheriziens have opened a museum dedicated to him and his well-known regiment, the Royal 22nd Regiment, or the Van Doos. Later we attended the Maples for Vimy Living Memorial of Honour held at the stadium in Ecoivre. After the traditional remarks, the two national anthems were performed: La Marseillaise and O Canada. I felt a chill go down my spine. On Nov. 11 in northern France we witnessed a truly rare event in the village of Mont Saint Eloi — a re-creation of the Armistice signing on Nov. 11, 1918, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Later we travelled to Carency, population 800, to be part of a typical celebration that enabled yet another village in northern France to reinforce its self-esteem by paying homage to those soldiers who, 100 years earlier, helped the nation survive. The townsfolk had gathered in the cemetery. After paying tribute to a village soldier who died defending his home, everyone moved to the site of 20 Vimy maples, planted last year, for speeches and national anthems. The town band then struck up stirring French marches and led, what seemed like the whole darn town, down the hill and through the narrow, twisting, house-hugging streets of Carency, to the cenotaph near the mayor’s office. After more uplifting speeches, an unusual custom caught my attention. During the Remembrance portion of the service, individual citizens would step forth to repeat names of their fallen townsfolk. After each name was read, a man standing at the base of the cenotaph would declare:

“Mort pour la France!” “Died for France!”

It was not hard for a visiting Canadian to realize that an unmistakable bond between citizen and country had been freshly dug up and firmly replanted.

The theme was continued at our last event, when we visited the village of Duisan. To celebrate the single tree planted there last year, we unveiled another of the Vimy maple plaques we had been installing across northern France.

We lifted our Champagne flutes in another toast to our two nations.

On the way home, my wife Olivia and I asked ourselves if we ever could have anticipated such an incredible journey to the Land of Remembrance? Never, we agreed. But the true impact of completing the mission, is that our sense of patriotism has been vividly re-awakened and our pride in Canada is heading for the moon.

Bruce Stock, Leamington, retired Major of Legion Branch 188 — Kingsville