Hi everyone—day 6, can you believe it? As we’ve gotten deeper into the trip, with some fatigue setting in, we experienced a few illnesses through the night and started the day a little later than usual, which I actually enjoyed lol. But as we set off to Verdun, a plague seemed to hit the bus, with a lot of upset stomachs, some mishaps, and a bathroom stop. Eventually, we arrived at our first stop, a memorial called the Douaumont Ossuary, Memorial of the Battle of Verdun.

As we looked out at a view we are beginning to become familiar with—crosses and stars stretching for yards in perfect alignment—we took a moment to talk about the meaning of the different headstones. The crosses represent Catholic and Christian soldiers, the stars represent Jewish soldiers, and there is also a sacred space of remembrance in its own section for Muslim soldiers.

As we turned to the rear of the property, there was a building with medallions outlining the entrance, representing all the different places that helped fund or had a hand in building the property. It was a beautifully designed structure. Although I personally did not enter the building, taking in the view of the property was breathtaking. The fresh air, the scenery, and the rows of soldiers remembered there created a very powerful moment.

Following that, we returned to the bus and again experienced some stomach difficulties, but we continued as best as possible to the various World War I battlegrounds, immersing ourselves in what the war truly entailed for the soldiers and trying to imagine what it meant for the land, the surrounding communities, and most importantly those fighting in such conditions.

This became especially clear at Fort Douaumont. From above, we saw what looked like a shell on a hill, not dramatically far from ground level. But once we entered, I do not think any of us anticipated the conditions we were presented with. Seeing their beds and their “bathrooms,” which were simply holes in the ground, was shocking. It was so cold that even with our clothes layered, we were still freezing, and imagining soldiers living there through rain and harsh weather made it difficult to understand how it was manageable.

We heard about the numbers of men packed into rooms and bunk beds. When the Germans overtook the fort at one point, they outnumbered the French soldiers the fort was built for three to one. Privacy was nonexistent, and we discussed with the tour guide the results of such poor hygiene and the effects this war life had on personal morale and dignity.

As we walked deeper and deeper into the structure, two or three levels underground, the experience became even more intense. Afterwards, we returned to the bus, took a group picture, and headed to the museum, where we had our picnic lunch inside the café area.

Lastly, we ended our tour of the World War I sites by walking to an open field that at first appeared to be nothing more than grass and trees. We learned that it was once a completely destroyed village that had around 150 residents, with houses and buildings constantly caught in crossfire as soldiers fought for control of Verdun and the surrounding area. The land changed hands between the French and Germans more than ten times. Now it is only grass and trees, with a few stones and one chapel of remembrance maintained by locals and a mayor to keep the memory of what was lost alive.

After such a roller coaster of a day, we finally arrived back at the hotel and enjoyed some downtime and relaxation, along with some friendly, innocent fun. We had one of the best dinners so far at the hotel. The highlight for me was the amazing seasoned and perfectly cooked potatoes. Then we called it a night, hoping the sickness would calm down for tomorrow—which, so far, has thankfully come true. Yay!

— Maleah Bey '26

Mont Fort and the Douaumont Ossuary are two really important sites from the Battle of Verdun. When we arrived at the fort, it looked small and kind of intimidating, with thick concrete walls and dark underground tunnels where soldiers once lived during the war. We walked through the hallways and saw old rooms where soldiers slept, stored supplies, and prepared for attacks, which made it easier to imagine what life was like there over a hundred years ago. It was a very eerie walk through such a quiet place, knowing how intense the fighting around Verdun was.

After exploring the fort, we visited the Douaumont Ossuary, which holds the remains of thousands of soldiers who died during the battle. Inside, the atmosphere was very quiet and respectful, and through small windows you can actually see the bones of unidentified soldiers. Outside the ossuary, we walked through the massive cemetery filled with rows and rows of white crosses honoring the soldiers who died. Seeing so many graves in one place made the scale of the battle feel much more real, and it made the whole visit pretty emotional but also really meaningful.

— Jadin Tate '28

Today we left for Verdun. Our departure was at 8:00 AM, and we arrived around 10:15 AM due to some delays. We had a quick stop at the Verdun Memorial for snacks and to use the bathroom. Then we went to the Douaumont Ossuary, the memorial cemetery for the French victims of the World War I Battle of Verdun. The monument at the ossuary represents a sword pointing into the ground where you cannot see its blade, symbolizing peace and the end of war.

Inside the ossuary, we were also able to see piles of bones from unidentified soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war. There were stone tombs and the names of villages honoring the soldiers who fought and sacrificed themselves.

Then we headed to the Fort of Douaumont, where we could see the flags of Germany, the European Union, and France at the entrance, representing that even after all the bloody conflict there, today there is peace. We saw how military technology worked, such as the turtle-style cannon. The guide also showed us a map of the region’s forts and the battles in Verdun, known as the sentinel of France. We were able to see how the soldiers slept and the harsh conditions they endured during the war.

Afterward, we headed back to the Verdun Memorial to have our picnic lunch. Then we visited the Monument to the Dead at Fleury-devant-Douaumont, dedicated to 16 citizens who were executed by the Gestapo at that location. There was also a chapel in remembrance of those people. Nearby, there was a small monument representing an act of disobedience in the military and what was described as an “unjust” call for execution, showing a dove and a soldier shot through the heart.

After this, we traveled to Saint-Avold. The ride was almost two hours. When we arrived at the hotel, we had dinner and rested for the next day.

— Gustavo Alcantara '28