(Courseulles-sur-Mer) The fight for freedom is not over, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned as Canada marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy amid a war in Ukraine where Russia is on the doorstep of Europe.
“Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who want to redraw the borders. It is threatened by demagogy, misinformation, disinformation and foreign interference,” he said on Thursday.
Mr. Trudeau said 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.
Moments later, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal continued in the same vein with a speech that captivated the audience to the point where the sound of birds singing in the bucolic landscape was easily audible despite the presence of thousands of people.
“History is a lesson for the future,” said Mr. Attal. And today, more than ever, we must hear and listen to it. Hear it and listen to it while war strikes Europe again and, on Ukrainian soil, people die for having committed the affront of wanting to be free. We must hear and listen to the story, because sad passions come back to the fore. »
The French Prime Minister explained that to come to this beach is to remember, and “to see again these men so young who came to fight for a distant and unknown land […], to let ourselves be inspired by their courage, carried by their bravery, guided by their exploits.”
“Our gratitude is eternal, infinite,” he insisted. France will never forget that, on this sand, the blood of Canadian youth flowed for our freedom. »
The Canadian national commemorative ceremony was held at “Juno Beach”, the code name given to this Normandy beach where 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed by sea and air on June 6, 1944.
Prince William, also at the ceremony, insisted that the D-Day assault remains “the most ambitious military operation in history” and that it ultimately led to the liberation of Europe occupied by the Nazis. “Thank you for our freedom. Thank you for your service,” he said in French.
Musical performances, a wreath-laying ceremony and a flypast were on the program of 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 would 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 total, 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 about 70 World War II veterans.