Victory in Europe Tour: April Update Student Edition

From my recent trip to Holland and our on-going developments, here’s an up-to-date as of April 6th 2010.
ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE
1. There will be a “double decker blue EF Bus” at all our events in the Netherlands. This will be our
“VE Tour HQ”. Tell your students to look for it, if help and/or information is needed, (ie.: lost items can
be brought here for return.) From here, we can also quickly reunite groups.
2. Be sure that you and your family and friends sign up at our VE Tour Facebook Fan page. We will be
doing BLOG’s regularly during the tour and it’s a great place for everyone to keep connected. The fan
page can be accessed through our VE Tour website to sign-up.
3. When we are at Wageningen for the Liberation Day Parade we have arranged for “exclusive” use of a
computer lab and the wireless internet at the University that we are based at.
VE TOUR UNIFORMS
The Tour Uniforms are in are now in the process of being shipped.
EACH student will print the names of their ‘two adopted soldiers” on either two inch white adhesive
tape OR “white iron-on fabric tape” placed below the VE Tour logo on each polo shirt. (Note: when
using the iron-on tape, be sure to print the names after ironing so the ink does not bleed!)
Please check the February Memo to see ‘what to wear when’ in regard to the uniform.
POPPY CROSSES
If you have not done so already, you need to make your “poppy crosses” to lay at the cenotaphs you
are visiting. You probably should have one to place at a grave site for each of the Canadian
cemeteries your own group may be visiting: Beny sur mer; Vimy Ridge; Beaumont-Hamel; Holten;
Grosebeek, Bergen op zoom. Check your group’s itineraries to see which ones you are visiting. Your
teacher will have complete instructions on how to make these.


VE EVENTS UPDATE

It has been confirmed that our Prime Minister, the Minister of Veterans Affairs and other Canadian dignitaries will be in attendance. Plus a plethora of media. Due to this, there may some last minute changes to the event schedules to allow for security issues and other political allowances. Be assured, I will be keeping a close eye on the schedules.
Below I have listed a quick update on our VE Events. At each VE Event, there will EF staff in attendance to assist you and to provide instruction.

EVENT UPDATES
May 2 & 3 : Vimy Ridge with special access to tunnels (Itineraries: VEA, VEB, VED,VEF)

May 2nd & 3rd : Menin Gate “Last Post Ceremony” (Itineraries: VEA, VEB, VED, VEF)

May 4th : Holten Afternoon (Itineraries: VED)
- students to read Act of Commitment
- students to lay wreath on behalf of “Youth of Canada”
- “fly past”

May 4th: Apeldoorn Evening Itineraries: VED)
- participation in community “Walk of Silence”
- visit Het Loo Palce prior to “walk”

May 4th : Groesbeek (Itineraries: VEA, VEB, VEF)
- central indoor dinner location confirmed for all in town community centre
- minister of VAC to march with our students and to assist in candle light ceremony.
- students to read Act of Commitment
- student to read “In Flanders Field”
- students to lay wreath on behalf of “Youth of Canada

May 5th : Wageningen (Itineraries: All Groups)
- our students are playing a major role throughout the day
- limited student involvement in Church ceremony
- limited school involvement in international Peace symposium debate
- Veteran/Student “speed linking taping from 500 veterans & students at University base site
- each school to have their school memorial Flag carried in parade
- each school to have one student to assist in carrying national flags in parade
- wireless internet access and computer lab access at our University base site
- central tent lunch area for 1500 at university base site
- specially arranged lunch for all at university base site. Lunch will be served by WW 2
re-enactors. Meal will be a self contained that heats itself. It is the type now being used by troops in Afghanistan.

May 6th: Holocaust (Itineraries: All Groups except VEL)
- everyone will visit Anne Frank House at some point
- dinner tonight to be a favourite for students

May 6th : Vimy Ridge with special access to tunnels (Itineraries: VEL)

May 7th : Voorthuizen Tattoo (Itineraries: VEA,VED,VEF)
- special exclusive “prime” seating for all our students
- each school to have their school memorial Fag carried in opening act
- each school to have one student to assist in carrying national flags in opening act

All info provided by Dave Robinson...