Ypres
Ypres was the main scene of battle in World War I. It was the city that faced probably the maximum damage as for many years the Germans and the Resistance fought there. The city was very crucial for both sides. There was only one way for the Germans to enter France, which was through Ypres. Therefore, it was very important for the Resistance to hold their position in Ypres. Upon arriving in Ypres we met Wouter Sinaeve who gave us a very insightful lecture on World War I. He spoke at length about the different kinds of weapons and protection that were used by soldiers during the war. It was quite a experience to see the different kinds of helmets, shells, and guns used during the war. Following the lecture was a visit to the Flanders Fields memorial. After our dinner break we went back to the memorial to hear the last post being played. It was a very emotional moment at the memorial. The tour guide had spoken of the experience being very heart moving. In reality, I had tears in my eyes during the Last Post. Seeing old men and women remembering those days and the loved ones they lost to the war brought out the gravity of the situation. There was a lot of pain in the eyes of many. Seeing the names of Indian soldiers on one of the pillars of the museum made the entire experience very personal to me as well. I hope all those who died in the war are in a better place.
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