On Saturday, June 6, Royal Canadian Legions all across Canada will commemorate D-Day – a military term used to indicate the day a combat attack or operation is set to be initiated.

June 6, 1944, marks the 71st anniversary of the D-Day most familiar to Canadians – the Second World War’s renowned Battle of Normandy, one of Canada’s most significant and successful military engagements. The Government of Canada is proud to pay tribute to all who served in this battle, helping to turn the tide of the Second World War and liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny. 

On that June day long ago, 14,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen – part of a company of nearly 150,000 Allied troops – stormed German defences along an 80 kilometre beachfront, code-named “Juno” in Normandy, France.
Against difficult odds, the Canadian troops advanced further than any of their allies, playing an integral role in the success of the D-Day landings. This victory, however, came at great cost. German defences thickly punctuated the beach – booby-traps, machine guns, artillery and mines.

Canadians suffered more than a thousand casualties on D-Day alone, including over three hundred deaths. Nevertheless, our Canadian troops continued to play a monumental role in the months that followed.

A stronghold for Nazi forces, the Normandy campaign was a hard-fought battle, and Canadian troops played a key role in the offensives that would ultimately defeat Nazi forces and help bring an end to the war in Europe. Our troops suffered the most casualties of any division in the British Army Group with more than 18,000 casualties including more than 5,000 Canadians giving their lives.

D-Day was a pivotal moment in history. The accomplishments of Canada’s Veterans during the Second World War are a source of great pride for Canada. These Canadians courageously and sacrificially fought to defend freedom, democracy and the rule of law – values that we continue to enjoy today.

Canada’s Veterans have served our country with great distinction, and our Conservative government is committed to giving each of them the support they need and deserve. We owe them for defending our rights and freedoms, and we are forever indebted to them for their sacrifices and accomplishments.

Lest we forget.

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