Thousands gathered at Juno Beach in France on Thursday morning to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
More than 14,000 Canadian soldiers stormed the beach on June 6, 1944, as part of the Allied invasion to push back the Germans from occupied France.
359 Canadians died on D-Day and more than 5,000 were killed during the 11-week battle.
Speaking at Thursday’s ceremony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was a gamble the world had never seen before — but when duty called, Canadians came together as one.
“One fighting force standing on guard for their British, American and French allies,” said Trudeau. Standing on guard for democracy, for liberty, for peace.”
First light ceremony at Canada House, the first liberated home in Bernières-sur-Mer during the #DDay landing of June 6, 1944. Of the 150,000 Allied troops that landed in Normandy, over 14,000 were Canadian. We remember all who did so much whether by land, air or sea. 🇨🇦🇫🇷 #DDay75 pic.twitter.com/7w8tqYCska
— Governor General of Canada (@GGCanada) June 6, 2019
Honourary Lieutenant-General Richard Rohmer gave a video message during Thursday’s ceremony.
As a reconnaissance pilot during the battle, his job was to support the troops on the ground as their eyes and ears and to provide intelligence.
“Canada was a world-class military power on land, on the sea and in the air,” Rohmer said. “We the teenaged fighters, no more than boys, achieved huge victories for Canada with a great cost in human life.”
359 Canadians died on D-Day and more than 5,000 were killed during the entire battle.
Trudeau said we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who fought in the Battle of Normandy.
“It is the responsibility of all Canadians to ensure that their story and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.
