FRBV25 CC RESPECT Liberty Visit to Ypres Museum in Ypres and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery

We went by coach to the city of Ypres, about 50 kms from Dunkerque, in the Belgian Flanders. First, we had a short walk in the city and the students had a glimpse at the Flemish architecture with its houses made of brick and stone topped by the characteristic high gables finished in a step pattern, known as crow-stepped gables. Ypres was almost completely destroyed during WWI, but was later rebuilt as close to the original designs as possible, especially the cloth Hall, which now hosts to In Flanders Fields Museum, dedicated to Ypres's role in the First World War. We visited the Museum retracing the different battles of the Ypres Salient, so costly in human suffering and casualties. The personal stories of how the First World War affected the lives of individuals of many nationalities are told through the many objects on display, interactive installations and lifelike characters. The displays include medical equipment, gas masks, and a mule and munitions wagon exhibit. Themes of the consequences of war, how we look into our past, and how and why we remember are explored.

The museum does not set out to glorify war, but to suggest its futility, particularly as seen in the West Flanders front region in World War I.

The students were led to realize the absurdity of war and the duty of remembrance.

After the visit, we went to Tyne Cot Military Cemetery a few kms away. In this graveyard in the fields, (the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, for any war), there are now 11,961 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated. We asked the students to find the names of soldiers of 4 different nationalities , give their age at the time of death, and  religion (if possible)

The students stood in line and then said the names of the soldiers and their age., paying a sort of tributes to them.

The students were really interested in the experience and impressed. They realized how much people suffered for their and our liberty. The visit to the cemetery was particularly emotional.