A Ladysmith youth had the opportunity to travel to Belgium and France to study Canada’s contributions in the First World War as a recipient of the Vimy Pilgrimage Award.
This past spring, Yaseen Hammoud, 15, travelled to Europe with 21 other Canadian students to visit historic cemeteries, battlefields, and museums to better understand and gain a unique perspective of the First World War.
“It was for sure one of the best experiences that I’ve had in my life,” said Hammoud. “It was so fascinating just learning, but it was also really emotional knowing about all of the deaths, and all of the people who sacrificed their lives where we were standing.”
READ MORE: Ladysmith teen awarded opportunity to make Vimy pilgrimage
He said a standout experience during the trip was visiting the city of Passchendaele, Belgium, visiting the homes of “significant people in history,” and seeing the lasting effects of bombing runs more than 100 years ago.
Winners of the award were chosen for their contributions to their community. Hammoud volunteers with a non-profit that looks to promote sustainable food, and he holds the rank of flight sergeant of his local air cadets branch.
With Remembrance Day coming up, he said the day feels much more significant after his experience.
“When I came back from the experience, [Remembrance Day] felt very important. I had to study the people who died, I had to learn about how the people died and how it changed history,” he said, adding that it was a “wow” moment.
Hammoud will be part of the honour guard at the Ladysmith cenotaph on Saturday, Nov. 11, for the Remembrance Day ceremony.
bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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