The
Men Are Ready...Only You Can Give Them Wings
Credit: Library and
Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-30-106 (Copyright: is expired)
Today
is the 69th Anniversary of D-Day – the Normandy Invasion on the
northern beaches of France.
As
the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said today in an official
statement -
“The
109 vessels and 10,000 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy helped keep the
German fleet bottled up in ports, cleared mines across the English Channel,
silenced enemy batteries on the shoreline, and carried Canadian troops and
landing craft to the battle.
“Finally,
the soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and 2nd Canadian Armoured
Brigade through raw courage, grit and determination engaged in fierce combat on
the beaches and in the small towns of Normandy helping smash the first line of
German coastal defences. In fact, by the
evening of June 6, 1944, Canadian troops had progressed further inland than any
of their Allies – a proud and remarkable accomplishment.
“The
day took a heavy toll. To secure victory
on D-Day, 340 Canadians gave their lives, 574 were wounded and 47 taken
prisoner.
“Let
us pause on this day to recall and honour the noble sacrifices of these heroes
who with other Allied forces turned the tide of the war, rid Europe of the Nazi
scourge, and paid a price so that we and so many others might be able to enjoy
peace and freedom with our families. While it is an impossible debt to repay,
we honour their memory".
Lest We Forget
D-Day:
Canada's role http://www.cbc.ca/news/dday
CBC give a very comprehensive retelling of Canada’s role in D-Day, with video, photos,
and excellent timelines that you might find useful in writing family history.
