Robert's Reflections

Another exciting and emotional France! Today’s objective was to visit the reality and narrative of Canada’s role in D-day. The drive towards Courseulles-sur-Mer was intriguing and special. I’ve always had a big heart for our soldiers of Normandy, even though I had no family active in the war. Seeing the terrain and the difficulties that they would have to endure is saddening.
The beach of Juno was quiet with a few children, adults and animals running in and out of the water so freely. Did our Canadian soldiers have such a free run? What was it like to land on the beach not knowing your faith? Was that going to be the last time you would see your comrades that you trained with for so long?

As I walked down the beach to the waterline, it was low tide, I tried to picture the ships and soldiers coming towards the beach. The soldiers must have been so scared. Then I began to think, what was the purpose? What would we as Canadians gain from the June 6? Was it necessary? Were they able to achieve the goal of June 6? I’ll leave it up to you.

The liberation of many communities and cities from the Germain’s has left us with many dead and injured. 160,000 Allied soldiers participated in the D-Day Invasion. It was a force of unity. It is estimated that 4,413 of them died. One can only imagine the energy, the courage, the fear, and the prayers that were uttered on that night, this night, in l944.

- Submitted by Robert