D-Day, June 6, 1944, 70th Anniversary Commemoration
Are you ready for a trip to France?
On June 6, 1944 - D-Day, the day of the Normandy Landings ~ Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II
Adapted from Library and Archives Canada images on Flickr. Set of images:D-Day
The Canadian Government has organised ceremonies in Canada and in France to honour those who served in World War II. This occasion commemorates the 70th anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944) and the Battle of Normandy.
Veterans from all nations and Canadians are all invited to attend the ceremonies. Provinces across the nation will additionally have ceremonies demarking the occasion. Financial assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is available to help Veterans attend the overseas events in France.
Postcards for Peace is one method for youth to become involved in remembering the sacrifices made in times of war or in active service. Although Veteran's Affairs suggests other
ways to remember, such as inviting a Veteran or Canadian Armed Forces as a guest speaker to a classroom or to a community event, or to write stories and poems about remembrance for a few of the ideas they offer as
ways to remember.
Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial lists 4,952 who paid the supreme sacrifice from Saskatchewan or 11.8% of the World War II Canadian contingent.
The
1952-53 Canada Year Book reports that Saskatchewan as a province had a population of 895,992 in 1941 and 831,728 in 1951, whereas the nation of Canada had a total population of 11,596,655 in 1941 and 14,009,429 in 1951. Saskatchewan represented 7.7% of the Canadian population in 1941, and 5.9% of the population in 1951.
The strategy and planning that went into D-day and the landings in Normandy resulted in the vitally strategic capture of Caen on July 9. According to the CBC, "For Canada, 14,000 soldiers were to land on the beaches; another 450 were to drop behind enemy lines by parachute or glider. The Royal Canadian Navy supplied ships and about 10,000 sailors." Counting the casualties from the D-Day invasion from all allied forces has been estimated at 10,000 dead and wounded. Veterans Affairs reports that about three hundred and forty Canadians were killed on D-Day on Juno Beach alone. Over 5,000 paid the supreme sacrifice.
Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial presents a
Roll of Honour for those from Saskatchewan who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.
"Lest We Forget
They shall gow not old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
We will remember them
Lord God of Hosts
Be with us yet,
Lest we forget,
Lest we forget."
Author Julia Adamson
For more information:
1952-53 Canada Year Book Statistics Canada. 2009-06-09. Date accessed May 26, 2014.
Adamson, Julia
Saskatchewan Gen Web - Military Resources. Date Accessed May 26, 2014.
Barry, Bill.
Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial Date accessed May 26, 2014.
Canada and the Second World War. Canada at D-Day. Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of History. Government of Canada. Date accessed May 26, 2014.
CBC D-day The Allied Invasion of Normandy. june 4, 2009.
Kerr, D.G.G., editor. Historical Atlas of Canada. Canadian Historical Associations Committee on a Historical Atlas of Canada. 1960. Thomas Nelson and Sons (Canada) ltd. Library of Congress catalog card number 60-9189.
Library and Archives Canada images on Flickr. Set of images: D-Day
Veterans Affairs Canada >> Remembrance >>
History >>
The Second World War >>
D-Day and the Battle of Normandy
Saskatchewan Genealogy Web : Sask Gen Web E-Magazine
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Niagra Cemetery, Iwuy Military Cemetery.
