JUNO BEACH CENTRE A STEP CLOSER

Wal-Mart Canada Juno Beach Fund Raising Project

By Harvey Shevalier

Centennial Branch # 285 and Wal-Mart Canada, MacLeod Trail South Store, Calgary, are participating in a joint Juno Beach project. Since June 1, 2002 two WWII veterans have manned  a donation table each Saturday amidst a mini WWII museum and other memorabilia to raise funds as a contribution to the new Juno Beach Centre that is being built at Courseulles-sur-Mer on the Normandy Coast of France. It was here that Canadians landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Juno Beach is the code name for the beach where Canadian Forces landed on D-Day namely the Regina Rifles; Royal Winnipeg Rifles; Canadian Scottish and 1^st Hussars. This venture by branch 285 will continue until October 19, 2002.

The Juno Beach Centre is a memorial education facility and is being developed to inform visitors on site, and through the Internet of Canadian participation in all war theaters including Far East, Italian campaigns; the story of the men and women working at home to support the war effort; and the emergence of Canada as an important participant on the world stage today. The centre will help visitors understand the significance of Canada's contribution to WWII.

The Juno Beach Centre will open on June 6, 2003 and is being built through donations. Well over half the $6.1 million required to build the Centre has been raised or pledged.

Through the hard work of the members of Branch 285 under the guidance of Comrades Bob Heath, Ed Barlow, Walter Skimin, Jack Greenwood and Wal-Mart MacLeod Trail South providing a TV with a VHS recorder and a video covering Canada's role in the defeat of Nazi Germany, munchies and beverages, the project as of the August 24^th has raised in excess of $8,000.00. This will certainly go a long way in helping with the building of the Juno Beach Centre. A tremendous tribute to the members of Branch # 285 and Wal-Mart MacLeod Trail South Store. Stand tall and be counted.

Juno Beach Centre Brochure	Juno Beach Memorial Museum	Juno Beach Sculpture
Beaches of Normandy

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