Employees of Branch 25 comment on French plans for a beach where Canadians died on D-Day; quilts given to veterinarians during the ceremony for the day D
Twenty-five members of the Royal Canadian Legion joined local World War II veterans to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy on Monday, June 6, 1944, at the Legion branch of the Great Northern Road.
This year’s ceremony was particularly touching, as Sault veterans were presented with Quilts of Valor in recognition of their service in Canada.
Three Sault veterans – World War II veterans Ken Anstis and Jens Lamour, along with Afghanistan and Iraq veteran Brian Gagne – received handmade quilts made by volunteer members of the Quilts of Valor Canada.
“The Royal Canadian Legion will always be here for you,” said emotional Helen Stewart, president of branch 25 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The Quilts of Valor Canada was founded in 2006 and, as of June 5, 2022, represented 18,945 quilts to active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces who deal with injuries, both visible and invisible.
An important point of conversation Monday among Branch 25 employees – according to Royal Canadian Legion staff across the country – is the proposed housing construction of Juneau Beach in France, where Canadian soldiers fought and died on D-Day and near the Juneau Beach Center. , The Canadian Museum and Memorial on the site.
Thousands of letters have been sent by Canadians to politicians in Ottawa and France calling for the site’s protection.
“In my opinion, and not only in my opinion, this is a sacred land,” said Helen Stewart, president of branch 25 of the Royal Canadian Legion, speaking to SooToday after Monday’s D-Day ceremony.
“Canadians died on these beaches there. I am disgusted by the fact that they would actually like to build apartments with a view of this and block the memorial. We will try to do what we can. To get to these apartments, they have to go through the memorial to get to the apartments, and I don’t know how the French government allowed it. It’s very sad that they would do that. “
“I’m terrified,” said Pierre Breckenridge, 1st Vice President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 25.
“Thousands of people are risking their lives to enable the rest of the world to be free, especially France. The Royal Canadian Legion and the Government of Canada will not interfere in the affairs of other countries, but I believe that as citizens we are all obliged to state our wishes and inform politicians of your personal views. There may be a difference, “Breckenridge said.
“Since March, a public campaign has been underway to help raise awareness in Canada, draw the attention of the federal government and raise funds to fight for the integrity of the Juno Beach Center and the sanctity of the site,” said Alex Fitzgerald-Black. executive director of the Juno Beach Center Association in an email.
“If we want to preserve the sanctity of this sacred land and honor the memory of the soldiers who fought and died on D-Day, we need Canadians to speak out to strengthen our politicians,” the website said, calling on the Prime Minister. to keep Juno Beach as it is.
An online link to express concerns about the development of the Juno Beach apartment can be found here.
“I hope all Canadians look at the website and research it, and if they feel compelled, sign the online petition,” said Richard Pihlaja, acting weapons sergeant at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25.
“I came in this morning and signed the petition, and within five minutes I received an email from the Sault Ste. MP’s office. Marie to accept the fact that I signed the petition and we will see what we can do about it.
“I was in Europe and toured all the cemeteries. We went to Juneau Beach and we went to this museum and it was just amazing to go through it. Unfortunately, these buildings they are talking about will be built right next to the land where the blood of Canadian soldiers was shed. Everyone must support this petition. They just can’t have those buildings there, “said Ron Roulo, 2nd vice president and director of the Royal Canadian Legion Museum, Branch 25.
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