Night at the museum – the real thing

By DANIELA GINTA

The opening night of ‘Into the Fray’, the new Kamloops Museum & Archives exhibit that runs from Sept. 18 to Dec. 31, gathered a small crowd of veterans, members of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regiment, and a handful of Kamloops citizens.

‘Into the Fray’ is the result of a cooperation between the Rocky Mountain Rangers Museum and the Kamloops Museum & Archives. The purpose is to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Great War and also share the stories of six Canadian men who put their lives on the line during the First World War.

The exhibition, wonderfully curated by Dennis Oomen and Julia Cyr (supervisor), is rich in stories and artifacts, most of which belong to the Rocky Mountain Rangers Museum. From bugles, uniforms, rifles and bayonets, to mud-and-blood covered helmets and gas masks, the story of the old days is weaved into fascinating history that takes you back to the trenches with men whose incredible acts of bravery should never be forgotten.

More than an exhibit, ‘Into the Fray’ is a learning experience that benefits young and old and honors the men who became part of history because they did not hold back when it was asked of them to give.

From now until the end of the year, you can take a quiet tour on your own or join one of the tours and presentations organized by KMA and learn about an important piece of Canadian history.

If ‘Into the Fray’ can be called a great learning opportunity for those wanting to know more about the Great War, it is essential that children see it too. They’ll get to see awe-inspiring Great War artifacts, including trench art crafted by soldiers from artillery shells and other leftover metal.

‘Into the Fray’ is a good place to learn how far dedication and patriotism can take people, in the trenches and also on the home front, and thus make us more aware of the deep significance of the approaching Remembrance Day.

Click on an image to begin slide show.