OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 06/05/11 -- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today on the 67th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy:
"Imagine, if you will, the mood of the members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Before them lay a formidable task. These young men, largely new to battle, had to storm "Fortress Europe" and take their objective, Juno Beach, or the Allied strike against Germany might fail. But if the landings succeeded, the Allied forces would finally gain a foothold in western Europe and a chance to end the war that had raged for five years.
Facing a ruthless enemy behind heavily defended positions, these brave Canadians swallowed their fear and relied on their training to succeed against terrible odds.
This important victory came at a terrible price. The Canadians suffered the most casualties of any division in the British Army Group: there are more than 5,400 Canadian graves in Normandy. But their sacrifice paved the way for the liberation of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark from German occupation and the end of the war that had claimed so many lives.
Canadians are rightly proud of our military history. We are a large nation with a small population, but consistently make significant contributions in times of war. Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen and women are respected worldwide for their determination and skill, and Canada, as a nation, is respected for always showing up to the fight.
We are a peaceful nation, but we will go to war when peace is threatened. In the future, Canada will continue to be there in times of need, as we have been in the past. The Canadian Forces is currently operating at the highest tempo since the end of the Second World War, and we will continue be a "go-to" nation for international military engagements, providing Canadian expertise and skill, bravery and resolve to end violence and tyranny.
To the veterans of D-Day, we owe a debt of gratitude, and are proud to carry on their tradition."
Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca