Today, marks the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. The Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch held a wreath laying ceremony at the Lethbridge Cenotaph near City Hall, as an act of remembrance.
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to open the way to Germany from the West. Victory in the Normandy campaign would come at a terrible cost. The Canadians suffered the most casualties of any division in the British Army Group.
“This 80th anniversary is being held at Juno Beach in France, but allows us locally to also pay our respects,” says Glenn Miller, president of the Alberta and Northwest Territories Branch of the Last Post Fund.
“It seems so long ago for the current generation and the generation before grew up in peace. It’s hard for us to pass on that important message for those families and members who don’t know what war is,” adds Miller.
In France and Europe, Miller notes, they have a whole different perspective of being on the receiving end of war. “It’s important community members and businesses support remembrance, not only on Remembrance Day – but throughout the year. Remembrance is a daily activity and each person can do their own act of remembrance in many different ways.”
General Stewart Branch First Vice-President Dave Martin’s father Dalton Martin landed on D-Day at 7:40 a.m. in the first wave.
“It’s a special meaning for us. We can remember the sacrifices he made, as a young boy. Leaving Canada, leaving his family and joining the Canadian government and Allies to fight the war. He has lasting effects on us. Our respect for what we have and our freedoms. We are honoured he was able to participate and made it through on the first wave,” says Martin.
Martin adds the Royal Canadian Legion continues to honour these dates and help younger generations remember the sacrifices for our freedoms. “If we fail to maintain events like this, they will be lost and forgotten in the generations to come.”
