On D-Day, 6 June 1944, fourteen thousand Canadians stormed Juno Beach alongside Allied forces in Normandy, France. It took Allies several months to prepare for and coordinate the attack, making it the largest combined military operation of all time. The operation helped begin the liberation of Western Europe.
This spring, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is commemorating D-Day and the Battle of Normandy with events across Canada, beginning with ceremonies at Beechwood National Cemetery on May 13 and at the Halifax Citadel on May 27. These events will culminate with our signature ceremonies that will take place on June 6 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and at Juno Beach, in France.
The Government of Canada has organized delegations, including D-Day and Second World War Veterans, to travel and participate in ceremonies and events in both Moncton and Normandy, France, in June.
If you aren’t able to participate at an event in person, we encourage everyone to follow along with the delegations’ activities through our social media channels, as well as watch the livestream of the June 6 ceremonies through our Canada Remembers Facebook page.
We have a shared responsibility to keep Veterans’ stories alive and recognize the price they paid, allowing us to lead the lives we do today.
Lest we forget.