The enduring courage
On the beaches of Normandy this morning, there were no blazing guns, heavily defended pillboxes, razor wire or mines. There was no enemy. There were only tears and reflections.
This is a significant day, not just for the men who landed on the coast of France on June 6, 1944, but for all of us who are old enough to understand the concept of courage in the face of oppression and endurance in the face of overwhelming odds.
D-Day was more than just a logistical adventure of mammoth proportions involving tens of thousands of troops, it was a turning point in the Second World War. It was a defining moment in history.
D-Day also followed by nearly two years what was one of the darkest days of the war, particularly for our community. At dawn on Aug. 19, 1942, Allied forces descended on the beaches of Dieppe, France, in an attempt to get a temporary foothold in Nazi-occupied Europe. What followed was one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War.
In fact, the Allied troops trained for months for their assault on Normandy, and their mission was as straightforward as it was challenging - to take back Europe from Germany.
Our country played a pivotal role in the D-Day invasion, and about 18,000 Canadians went ashore that first day. There were 1,074 casualties, and 359 were fatal, but the Canadians had pushed about nine kilometres inland by the day's end.
"Success on D-Day and in the battles that followed came at a price: there are more than 5,400 Canadian graves in Normandy. But their sacrifice was not in vain. The victories won there paved the way to victory on May 8, 1945."
Today, we can all join the remaining D-Day veterans and the families of those who did not return in remembering their valour and sacrifice. We also remember the courage shown by those who landed at Dieppe and set the stage for victory.
They all brought honour and respect to Canada, and they selflessly put their lives on the line in the cause of freedom.
It is a day to be proud. A day we must never forget.
