345 14 15 16 17 18 The GreatWar age were postponed but not forgotten. In 1934 a reunion of more than 75,000 veterans at the Exhibition grounds in Toronto celebrated and demonstrated their unity and comradeship. That same year, the magazine of the Canadian Legion, The Legionary, announced, “that the Canadian Legion is definitely organizing and conducting a Pilgrimage to the Battlefields for all ex-Service men and women in Canada.” Planners anticipated 5000 would make the journey. In the end, 6200 Canadians from all across the country paid $160 (the cost for all meals, sea and land transportation, accommodation and insurance) and signed on for the three and half week Pilgrimage in July, 1936. Considering the average yearly earnings for a man was less than $1000, shelling out 15-20 % of one’s yearly income, at the height of the Depression, was an impressive measure of the old soldiers’ desire to return. While the Nazis in Germany and Mussolini’s Fascist in Italy made world newspaper headlines, the Pilgrims made their way by rail and other means to Montréal where Europe bound ships awaited. They were hailed as the heroes upon their arrival in France on the 25th of July. A full itinerary was in store over the next few weeks with various ceremonies, commemorations, receptions, and side tours. But the crowning event would be the unveiling of the new Vimy Memorial the next day on 26 July, 1936. An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 French civilians joined the 6200 Canadian Pilgrims at the memorial site. The forerunner of the CBC, the Canadian Radio Commission, broadcasted the even live back to Canada, a remarkable feat in 1936. Among those Pilgrims in attendance was Mrs. Charlotte Wood of Winnipeg, sadly one of scores of Silver Cross Mothers who made the voyage.* Eleven of Mrs. Wood’s sons served in the war; five were buried in France and three more later died as a result of their wounds. The newKing, in his first official engagement and at home with the Canadian veterans with whom he had served at times in the war, said, “crowning the hill of Vimy [that] is now and for all time part of Canada…” There were more events in the coming days and the Canadians were feted wherever they went. These were great Events on the world stage would soon overshadow the Great War and, with the exception of the King Edward VIII at the Vimy Memorial Dedication.
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