The Allied invasion of Normandy marks a major turning point in World War II in the European Theater. Of the 14,000 Canadian troops landing at Juno Beach, 359 died on that first day. The Normandy campaign would claim more than 5000 Canadian lives with greater than 13,000 more wounded or captured.
Only a handful remain alive today to share their experiences and to be honored by the generations born since for their sacrifices in the fight against fascism.
Richard Norris was 17 when he landed at Juno Beach. Yesterday he lowered the flag in Summerland, BC, to honor those who fought. Another veteran, Bill Cameron, 100 years old, died last Friday, the day before he was set to board a plane in Vancouver to take part in the official Canadian delegation in France.
Thirteen Canadian WWII veterans attended Thursday's ceremonies at Juno Beach, which followed a performance by Metis musicians, Mitchell Makoons and Morgan Grace.
"On the battlefield, francophones, anglophones, Indigenous people and new Canadians came together as one. Brave Canadians like you sacrificed everything for our freedom," said Prime Minister Trudeau. "There are no words to describe the immensity of the debt we owe you." Other speakers representing their nations included Prince William (Britain), President Biden (US) and President Macron (France).
Most of us will never need to sacrifice our lives to fight fascism. Democracy, however, does require that we vote.
Thank you, Virginia V.
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/richard-norris-dday-80th-anniversary-1.7227193
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dday-normandy-second-world-war-1.7225987
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings#Beach_landings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings#/media/File:Beny-sur-Mer_Cemetery.jpg