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Francoise Guerra, watching the pa- rade with her teenage daughter, said the event captured the Canada-France friendship that still persists from the 1914-1918 conflict, despite the long in.. terveninz years. A parade earlier Sunday afternoon in the city of Arms, a few short kilometres from the pock-marked ridge, had lacked the emotional wallop associated with the memorial itself and the pris- tine military cemeteries dotting the nearby countryside. By tradition, the "Freedom of the City" parade is regarded as the most prized honour that a community can give to a military unit. The Canadian Forces paraded on the cobble-stone square in front of city hall, and knocked at a symbolic gate to the city set in front of a viewing stand of dignitaries. The mayor of Arras reviewed the Canadian troops, and then granted them permis- sion to enter. Ptt Minister Stephen Harper drew a direct line Sunday between Cana, dian soldiers dying in Afghanistan and the sacrifices of Canadians on Vimy Ridge almost a century ago. "Sadly, today has been a difficult day in Afghanistan," he told the hushed room. "We've learned that an incident has claimed the lives of six Canadian soldiers and injured a number of oth- ers." There could be no more poignant re- minder as thousands of Canadians mustered for Monday's re-dedication of the refurbished Vimy Memorial on the site of this country's most celebrated battle of the First World War. While thousands turned out on a bril- liant spring Sunday, the crowds fell far short of the advertised 35,000 that or- ganizers had anticipated, and the lo. pals' response to the festivities was re- spectful and muted. Speaking to a group of veterans on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the historic First World War battle, the prime minister portrayed the work of Canada's military as being on a straight line continuum from 1917 to 2007. "Cahadians did not go to war then, nor will we ever, to conquer or to en- slave," Harper told the dinner gather- ing that included Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff. Harper went on to say Canadian sol- diers "still live in a dangerous world and, as prime minister, my thoughts these days are never far from Afghanistan." The speech had been prepared in ad- vance, but at this point a sombre and subdued Harper deviated from the text due to events that had unfolded only hours earlier. There was a loud, collective intake of breath before the prime minister con- tinned. "Our hearts ache for them and their families. And I know as we gather to- gether on Easter Sunday, our thoughts and prayers are with them." "But when the cause' isjugl, Canada will always be there to defend our val- ues and our fellow human beings.” Soldiers 'still live in a dangerous world': PN By The Canadian Press VERLINGHEM, FRANCE Canadian war veterans John Colton, left, and Eldon McCallum a1 of the Battle of Vimy Ridge Sunday In Arras, France. Below, Prirr Canadian soldier cemetery near the Vimy War Memorlal Sunday, Fort George in NiagaraontheLake has a unique connection with Vimy Ridge, as well as other conflicts, in- cluding the Second World War, Boer War and Korean War. Butler's Barracks, located just west of the fort, and the large open fields bounded by John and King streets, were once a busy army reserve known as Camp Niagara. "If the army hadn't been here up until the 19605, this area would probably all be housing by now," said Dave Webb, manager of public pro- grams at the national historic site. With the start of the First World War, the fort was used as a training camp.for 14,000 soldiers of the 2nd Division of the Canadian Expedi- tionary Force. At Fort Mississauga, located on the grounds of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course, an archway that leads to the mouth of the Niagara River has a number of soldiers' names scratched into the brick. "These soldiers stood guard duty there and they were soldiers who went on to Vimy Ridge and other bat- tles. ts local graffiti from that peri- od," Webb said. The fort will be open today to mark the anniversary, while an extended event is planned forthe summer. A timelined historical weekend will be held June 14 and 15. "We will be focusing on a range of historical time periods, with an em- phasis on the First World War," Webb said. Fort George connection __ Osprey News Network "I think [he first war is very present in the memories of everybody because of and Eldon McCallum attend celemonles commemorating the 90th anniversary as e-.., n_l-... "4.“, I.» n . -. . .. _ ., -- _ _ H I, Prime Minister Stephen Harrier visits; Fir}; WoridWa; mday, along with his son, Ben, and daughter, Rachel. the cemeteries, because of the prese of the soldiers who are dead here," said. "I think it's still very real." PM, "THE STANDARD Monday, April 9, 2007 of try? presence CP PHOTO she