The fight for freedom is not over, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warns as Canada marks 80e anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in the context of a war in Ukraine where Russia is at the gates of Europe.
“Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who want to redraw the borders,” he said Thursday, a thinly veiled reference to the Russian invasion.
Mr. Trudeau said that democracy must be relentlessly defended. “We owe it to future generations. And we owe it to the women and men in uniform who have sacrificed so much for our collective freedom,” he noted.
The Canadian national commemorative ceremony is held at “Juno Beach”, the code name given to this Normandy beach where 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed by sea and air to liberate Europe occupied by the Nazis.
In addition to Prime Minister Trudeau, his French counterpart Gabriel Attal and Prince William must speak to pay tribute to these brave soldiers.
Musical performances, a wreath-laying ceremony and a flypast were on the program for the ceremony attended by around ten Second World War veterans and thousands of people.
Along the road leading to “Juno Beach”, Canadian flags stood alongside those of France, the United States and the United Kingdom. At a gas station, civilians stood at attention as Prime Minister Trudeau’s convoy passed.
With the Americans and the British, the Allied troops numbered a total of 156,000 soldiers to storm five beaches.
The ensuing battle will last 11 weeks. No less than 90,000 Canadians will take part, and in bloody fashion. The death toll will reach 5,500 among our people.
The Allies of the past are not exactly those of today, when France, Great Britain, the Americans and the Canadians fought alongside the Red Army. Now, Russia, which invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, is clearly in the opposing camp.
Moreover, its president, Vladimir Putin, did not receive his invitation to the commemoration events from France, which organizes them, due to its invasion.
Later, Thursday, the international ceremony will take place at Omaha Beach. US President Joe Biden and other heads of state will be there.
In all, around twenty world leaders will attend the event. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz are expected to be among them.
More than 45,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, including approximately 70 World War II veterans.