On so many different levels, the gathering of western leaders in Normandy today is steeped in symbolism as the nations whose troops stormed the beaches eight decades ago reflect on wars past and present.
The ceremonies unfolding throughout today, however, also mark what might be the world’s last opportunity to celebrate the handful of surviving soldiers, sailors and aircrew who charged forth on June 6, 1944 into the teeth of the Nazi guns — and to say goodbye.
Time grows short for the veterans of D-Day, most of whom are at least close to a century old. That fact was underscored painfully by the passing of navy veteran Bill Cameron, who had been slated to take part in the official Veterans Affairs Canada delegation.
He died Friday, the day before he was set to board a plane in Vancouver, the Canadian Press reported. Cameron was 100 years old.
Thirteen Canadian veterans of the Second World War were in attendance for Thursday’s anniversary ceremonies at Juno Beach.
Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas-Taylor said this year’s commemoration will likely be the last attended by veterans of the European campaign, but the federal government will continue to mark the occasion.
“It’s so important for us as Canadians to continue with these very important events,” she said Wednesday.
‘Canadians came together as one’: PM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Allied forces, including 14,000 Canadians who landed at Juno Beach, after a performance by guitarist Mitchell Makoons and fiddler Morgan Grace, both Métis from Manitoba.
“On the battlefield, francophones, anglophones, Indigenous people and new Canadians came together as one. Brave Canadians like you sacrificed everything for our freedom,” said Trudeau. “There are no words to describe the immensity of the debt we owe you.”
