June 6th, 2021, marks the 77th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe. Let us take a short minute to remember The Longest Day.

In cities and towns, in this country and around the world, commemoration ceremonies, although restrained by the Covid pandemic, will take place to honour the sacrifices of so many, so that the world could be free from oppression and tyranny.

Veterans of this day will remember their comrades in arms and those who fell. And when you see those old men with their medals shining in the sun, remember the price they paid for those shiny bits of metal and that they too were young once.

On this day, Canada and its allies launched Operation Overlord, the greatest sea-borne invasion the world had ever seen. 150,000 troops stormed five beaches code-named Gold, Sword, Juno, Omaha and Utah in Normandy, France. The operation began the liberation of German-occupied France (and later Europe) from Nazi control and laid the foundations for the Allied victory on the Western Front.

HMCS Kitchener

On D-Day 14,000 Canadians landed at Juno Beach. The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 sailors and the RCAF contributed 15 fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons to the assault.

On D-Day, Canadians suffered 1074 casualties, including 359 killed.

We will remember them!