On June 6, 1944 the Allied forces of Britain, America, Canada and France stormed the beaches of Normandy France in Operation Overlord, 
hailed as the turning point that led to the Allied victory in World War II. This year marked the 75th anniversary of this auspicious event. We would have been remiss not to take advantage of our time in France to remember and to celebrate our Canadian involvement.
From the port of LeHavre we joined a small group tour that focused on the Canadian D-Day sites in Normandy. We found the tour through Normandy Sightseeing Tours, a full day dedicated to the Canadian landing sites around Juno Beach and the monuments and memorials in the surrounding countryside.
Our first stop was the memorial to a Canadian landing site were we saw a tank that had fallen into a ditch as it arrived on shore and was later retrieved. The tank remains essentially where is landed. Only one man survived from that day and when he died his ashes were spread around the monument. A number of British soldiers were present to sand and paint the tank in preparation for the anniversary celebrations, and regal us with their stories.
From there we traveled to the Juno Beach Centre. This museum and memorial was built in 1996 when our veterans realized there was nothing in Normandy to celebrate the Canadian involvement in WWII. The museum contains interactive displays, exhibits and films that make it a great opportunity for families to explore this pivotal time in history. Outside you can tour the Command Centre and defensive bunkers that are open to the public. The tour guides are young Canadians, introduced as being the same age as our soldiers were in 1944, with a passion for history.
A walk down to the beach is a must. There was only one defensive bunker left to see but we were not disappointed. Our guide brought that day to life with pictures and stories that gave us goosebumps.
Driving from there we passed or stopped at a number of monuments to Canadians and their involvement in D-Day and the days that followed, including those found in the villages of Bernieres, Saint Aubin, Carpiquet and Caen. The light standards framing the main street were festooned with the names of Canadians that died in France, and the Canadian flag flew proudly from businesses and homes.
On the beach in Berneires–sur-Mer we stopped to see Canada House, the first home to be liberated by Canadian soldiers on D-Day. Other than the pock marks of the shrapnel the house looks almost exactly as it did that day. Descendants of the original owners still live there but it has become a quasi-museum for visitors and a welcome haven for veterans.
We heard stories of the Canadian soldiers that were held at bay for a month at Hell’s Corner before defeating the Germans and moving forward. We paid our respect at the Ardenne Abbey where 21 Canadians were executed in the days following June 6th. We drove the path of the troop’s movement from the Beach inland as they achieved objective after objective in defeating the enemy. Each of the monuments were well tended, clear of the debris and graffiti which is common in many public squares. The respect was apparent and moving.
We also stopped at the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery where 2047 Canadian soldiers are buried. The surrounding lawns were shaded by maple trees and the head stones stood gleaming white in rows festooned with colourful flowers. We felt very proud of the young men and women who served our country and it swelled out hearts to see them getting the respect and dignity they deserved.
Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pay our respects to our veterans. During the rest of the year our day to day lives give us few intervals of recollection, so when we travel, especially in Europe, be sure to visit the sites where Canadian soldiers are remembered and honoured.
More information about this tour can be found at https://www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com/d-day-tour/tour-c-3-canadian-sector.html. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly and we found time in our day to stop in a small village for lunch. The company offers a number of different itineraries to the different beaches so you will find one that meets your needs. If you are a war history buff, or just a proud Canadian, this is a worthwhile trip.