The Men Are Ready...Only You Can Give Them Wings
Credit: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1983-30-106 (Copyright: is expired)
Today is the 69th Anniversary of D-Day – the Normandy Invasion on the northern beaches of France.
As the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said today in an official statement -
“The 109 vessels and 10,000 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy helped keep the German fleet bottled up in ports, cleared mines across the English Channel, silenced enemy batteries on the shoreline, and carried Canadian troops and landing craft to the battle.
“Finally, the soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade through raw courage, grit and determination engaged in fierce combat on the beaches and in the small towns of Normandy helping smash the first line of German coastal defences. In fact, by the evening of June 6, 1944, Canadian troops had progressed further inland than any of their Allies – a proud and remarkable accomplishment.
“The day took a heavy toll. To secure victory on D-Day, 340 Canadians gave their lives, 574 were wounded and 47 taken prisoner.
“Let us pause on this day to recall and honour the noble sacrifices of these heroes who with other Allied forces turned the tide of the war, rid Europe of the Nazi scourge, and paid a price so that we and so many others might be able to enjoy peace and freedom with our families. While it is an impossible debt to repay, we honour their memory".