OTTAWA, ON, April 2nd 2015 – All Legion Branches will fly their Canadian Flags at half-mast on April 9th 2015 from sunrise to sunset to commemorate Vimy Ridge Day. It was during this famous battle that Canadians did what other allied forces could not; capture Vimy Ridge.
“Ensuring the continuation of the tradition of Honouring and Remembering our military heritage is very important to the Legion and its 300,000 members,” says Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tom Eagles. “The Battle of Vimy Ridge, a battle that commenced on Easter Monday in 1917, is a day that many consider as historically important as the signing of the first document that created Canada in 1867 (BNA ACT),” adds Eagles.
The capture of Vimy Ridge by all four divisions of the Canadian Corps that fought together, for the first time, played an important role in giving Canada the right to participate as a signatory at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It was also just prior to this battle that the Prime Minister of the day, Sir Robert Borden, promised a social contract with Canada’s fighting forces:
“You can go into this action feeling assured of this, and as the head of the government I give you this assurance: That you need not fear that the government and the country will fail to show just appreciation of your service to the country and Empire in what you are about to do and what you have already done. The government and the country will consider it their first duty to see that a proper appreciation of your effort and of your courage is brought to the notice of people at home that no man, whether he goes back or whether he remains in Flanders, will have just cause to reproach the government for having broken faith with the men who won and the men who died.”
In 2003, the Federal Government decreed by an Act of Parliament that 9 April each year will be called Vimy Ridge Day. The Canadian Flag on the Peace Tower will also be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice at this momentous battle. It is the only battle that has been recognized in this manner by an Act of Parliament.
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For further information please contact Bruce Poulin at Dominion Command, at (613) 591-3335 ext. 241 or by cell at (613) 292-8760 or bruce.poulin@legion.ca.