I have some really quick stories.
At the 60th anniversary at Juno Beach, there was a young girl on my trip, spoiled rotten but a good kid. After all the ceremonies the only people allowed on the beach are the Queen—our Queen—the veterans, and my students. We're on the beach. Our young lady has her “aha” moment. She found a veteran sitting on the sand, went up to him, and asked if she could help him, if he needed anything. He said he was fine, but he never made it past that point.
She said: “Are you sure? Do you want some water?” She walked away and he said: “Miss, there is something you can do for me. Would you get me some stones? I promised my grandchildren I'd bring them back some stones from Juno Beach”.
Off she wandered and then brought back some stones. He was standing up now and she held out her hand with these little stones, and he held up his arms, which had two hooks. He said, “Would you put them in my pocket for me? This is where I lost my hands”.
This girl will graduate from the University of Alberta this year on her full scholarship in an MBA program. When she came back she became our citizen of the year at my school.
On VE day, we had a first nation student at Juno Beach wading out into the water past his knees, because this is where both his grandparents on his father's and mother's side died. They never made it ashore.
We were in Italy with a school from Ottawa. The kids had to carry the city of Ottawa quarterback football star away from the gravesite of the soldier whom he had adopted. He had come face to face.
I get emails all the time from parents asking what we've done to their child. They've come back changed. They say, “Please come with us and see for yourself”. It's absolutely amazing what happens to these kids.