This summer, Surrey-area teen Haardik Garg is getting a history lesson well beyond textbooks.
A student at Princess Margaret Secondary, Garg was selected for a trip to France and Belgium among 14 winners of this year's Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, administered by Vimy Foundation.
The annual award is given to outstanding youth, aged 15 to 17, from Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The chosen students rose to the top from a sea of essay submissions, art analysis, personal statement videos, resumes and letters of reference from a mentor.
Garg's European trip, from Aug. 11-20, involves visits to historical sites, museums and battlefields of the First and Second World Wars including the D-Day landing areas of Normandy.
"Today, I visited two really impactful places called Mulberry Harbour and La Cambe German Cemetery," Garg wrote in a blog posted to vimyfoundation.ca, about the third day of his nine-day adventure.
"Both of them, in different ways, were able to convey the idea about the true meaning of war is full of complexities and the presence of human sides to it, which are too frequently overlooked."
Standing at Mulberry Harbour in Normandy, he wrote, "I was surprised by the sheer scale of what had been accomplished there during the Second World War. This harbour, a work of genius from an engineering point of view, was indispensable for the success of landings in Normandy. Now, as I looked out at what remains today of that ingenious structure of such vital importance, I couldn't help but wonder if how it is possible to forget the engineers, labourers and other workers who made things like this possible.
"Although these people did not stand on the front line, bearing arms, they were really vital to the war effort. Their ingenuity and hard work never stopped under the immense pressure and danger, forming an instrumental force in making sure that the Allied invasion succeeded. Yet, their stories are often eclipsed by more dramatic accounts of soldiers in combat. It reminded me of just how easily we forget those whose contributions, no less important, were perhaps a little quieter.
"Even now, their contributions remain largely unrecognized. This signifies the lesson that much of history is written with an emphasis on the most visible, rather than the most essential, participants. This was very personal to me as an aspiring engineer. I couldn't help but wonder how I would feel if, after having dedicated my skills and energy to a cause, that work was undervalued and largely overlooked by history. It is a sobering thought, one that made me appreciate the often-unseen contributions of those whose names may never be known but whose efforts were absolutely essential."
Garg and the other students later visited La Cambe German Cemetery, where "a different, more somber reflection began to take shape," he wrote.
"The complication was brought home by the lines of graves, each marking the final resting place of a German soldier. Unlike many Allied cemeteries, La Cambe is no place of unambiguous remembrance. The soldiers buried here fought for Nazi Germany, a regime responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Yet many of them were conscripts — forced young men to fight in a war with which they had little choice and often for a cause they didn't believe in. That realization, to me, added tragedy to the visit.
"As one considers war," Garg continued, "it is easy to paint in broad strokes of heroes against the villains. However, that truth is very nuanced. Many of these soldiers were caught up in forces much larger than themselves, victims of a brutal regime that they might not have supported, yet were compelled to fight for. It got me reflecting on how complex war really is and how the stories we tell often strip the full and nuanced stories from those on all sides.
"One grave that impressed me belonged to Poblofzki, a young man who was able to avoid participating in the Hitler Youth by joining the Red Cross. I felt a deep sadness for him and many other boys like him who were caught in this impossible situation. What struck me about him, more than anything, was the bravery required to find some way through the terrifying reality of his time, without simply submitting to it. It is his story alongside so many others there, which reminds us that war is almost always the most complex thing in the world, and the stories to which we cling to are often an oversimplification of the true reality.
"Overall, these two places provided me with new thoughts of new realities outside of the textbook and I am excited to see what's next."
Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, described as an "experiential learning educational program," gives winning students a unique opportunity to explore the historical landscapes of Europe and foster international cooperation.
The summer trip aims to allow students "to connect more deeply with history, providing a tangible understanding of the events that shaped our world," according to the program website.
"By walking the same grounds where soldiers once stood, students gain a profound appreciation for the sacrifices made and the enduring lessons from these pivotal moments in history. This experience will provide them with transferable skills and unique historical perspectives, while also allowing the students to connect with peers from multiple countries."
