Branch 25 agents express views on French plans for the beach where Canadians died on D-Day; comforters delivered to veterinarians at the D-Day ceremony
The 25 officers of the Royal Canadian Legion branch joined local World War II veterans to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy on Monday, June 6, 1944 at the Legion branch on Great Northern Road.
This year’s ceremony was especially moving as Sault veterans received Quilts of Valor in recognition of their service to Canada.
Three Sault veterans — World War II veterans Ken Anstice and Jens Lamour, along with Afghanistan and Iraq veteran Bryan Gagne — received handmade duvets made by volunteer members of the Quilts of Valor Canada Society. .
“The Royal Canadian Legion will always be here for you,” said Helen Stewart, president of the 25th branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The Quilts of Valor Canada Society was formed in 2006 and, as of June 5, 2022, had presented 18,945 comforters to active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are facing visible and invisible injuries.
An important point of conversation Monday between branch 25 officials, according to Royal Canadian Legion officials across the country, is a condominium development proposal at Juno Beach in France, where Canadian soldiers fought and died on D-Day and near Juno Beach Center. , Canada Museum and Memorial on site.
Canadians have sent thousands of letters to politicians in Ottawa and France calling for the site to be protected.
“From my point of view, and not just from my point of view, it’s a sacred land,” Helen Stewart, president of the 25th branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, told SooToday after the D-Day ceremony. from Monday.
“That’s where Canadians died on these beaches. I’m sick of the fact that they really want to build condominiums with a view to this and block the monument. We’ll try to do what we can. To get to these apartments they have to go through the memorial grounds to get to the apartments. and I don’t know how the French government allowed it. It’s very sad that they do. “
“I’m horrified,” said Pierre Breckenridge, first vice president of the 25th branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“Thousands of people risk their lives to provide an opportunity for the rest of the world to be free, particularly France. The Royal Canadian Legion and the Government of Canada will not be involved in the affairs of other countries, but I believe that as citizens all “We have a duty to make our wishes known and let politicians know your personal views. It can make a difference,” Breckenridge said.
“A public campaign has been underway since March to help raise awareness in Canada, capture the attention of the federal government and raise funds to fight to preserve the integrity of the Juno Beach Center and the health of the place,” said Alex. . Fitzgerald-Black, executive director of the Juno Beach Center Association in an email.
“If we are 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 so that our politicians can step up,” said the website, which calls for The Prime Minister to preserve Juno Beach as it is.
The online link to express your concerns about Juno Beach condo development can be found here.
“My hope is that all Canadians will look at the website and investigate it and, if they feel compelled, sign the petition online,” said Richard Pihlaja, acting sergeant in the 25th branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“I logged in this morning and signed the petition and within five minutes I received an email from the office of Sault Ste. Marie MP to accept the fact that I signed the petition and we will see what we can do about it.”
“I was in Europe and I went through all the cemeteries. We went to Juno Beach and went to that museum and it was amazing to go there. Unfortunately, the buildings they are talking about will be built right next to the land where the blood of Canadian soldiers was shed. Everyone should support this request. They just can’t have those buildings there, “said Ron Rouleau, 2nd vice president and museum director of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch.