JUNO BEACH

JUNO BEACH - THEY WON'T BE FORGOTTEN

By Harvey Shevalier

Public Relations Chairman

Centennial Branch #285 helps Wal-Mart Canada, MacLeod Trail South Store raise in excess of $13,200.00

for the Juno Beach fund-raising Campaign.

On October 19, 2002, Centennial Branch held a closing ceremony which culminated a project that began June 1, 2002 at the Wal-Mart store located at 9650 MacLeod Trail, Calgary. The ceremony concluded the branch's participation in Wal-Mart Canada's fund raising campaign to build the Juno Beach Centre a Canadian memorial education facility to be built at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France. Courseulles-sur-Mer is located on the Normandy Coast and overlooks the English Channel, is one of the communities on the long stretch of oceanfront where the full Allied force landed on D-Day. Each section of the beach was given a military code name and the site selected for the Canadians to come ashore was called 'Juno.'

Picture this. The morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, Allied soldiers are about to launch an assault on the fortress of occupied Europe. Young Canadians, huddled and crowded on landing craft for some 24 hours because of delays, are crossing the English Channel in choppy waters. As they travel in the dark, they are cold, wet and so seasick they can hardly wait to get ashore - even though they know they will come under heavy enemy fire. 14,000 Canadian Assault Troops landed on the coast of Normandy as part of the Allied invasion and played the major role in the liberation of North West Europe from Nazi occupation. In today's world it is not always remembered that Canada was a nation of just 11 million people at the start of the war. Of that number, one million Canadians volunteered for service. Canadian troops advanced further inland on the day of landing than any other Allied troops but not without paying the price. Within the first 24 hours of D-Day, Canada suffered more than 1000 casualties including 359 killed.

At present there is no significant memorial at the Juno Beach site to commemorate Canada's role in the D-Day invasion. The Juno Beach Centre will proudly immortalize that historic event. The centre will include the story of Canada's military on land at sea and in the air, throughout World War 11 along with the life and work of Canadians who were involved in the war effort at home. The cost of this project is estimated to be approximately 6.5 million dollars and is scheduled to officially open on June 6, 2003.

Wal-Mart Canada is proud to support the Juno Beach Centre as the exclusive retail partner. As Mario Pilozzi, the President and CEO says "Canada's contribution to World War 11 was so important. We cannot let it be forgotten. As a company we are honoured to participate in the fund-raising. We want the story of our heroes to be told."

Comrade Harvey Shevalier, Vice President Alberta-N.W.T Command provided the opening remarks and introduced District 5 Commander Comrade Doug Cooper who made a special Legion Certificate presentation to Wal-Mart MacLeod Trail South store, to store manager Mark Schaffel. Comrade Bob Heath, Branch Service Officer and one of the organizers of the Centennial Branch participation introduced Comrade Dave Horrocks, Chairman, Alberta N.W.T. Command and Branch President Comrade Joey Bleviss and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Mike Snodden and Irwin Patel of the Wal-Mart store. Store Manager Mark Schaffel presented a 3 x 6 foot Canadian Flag to Centennial Branch. The flag was accepted by Comrade Heath.

Comrade Art Perry, a member of Centennial Branch was a very special guest to this ceremony as Comrade Art was one of the very young Canadians who landed on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. On introduction a great crowd of applause could be heard throughout the store.

Thank you, members of Centennial Branch # 285 for your great contribution to this most worthwhile project and Wal-Mart MacLeod Trail South for being part of the Exclusive Retail Partner in this project.