COURSEULLES-SUR-MER — Thirteen Canadian veterans of the Second World War returned to Normandy this week, where the sacrifice of Allied soldiers who liberated the region 80 years ago is deeply remembered, as leaders warned democracy is still in peril.
"Our way of life didn't happen by accident, and it won't continue without effort," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday, as thousands gathered along the sunny beaches of Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.
Behind him in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, the waters of the English Channel were calm, and a navy ship could be seen offshore. A sand dune was covered in wild roses and other flowers and grasses."Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who want to redraw borders. It is threatened by demagoguery, misinformation, disinformation, foreign interference," he said.
Historians estimate about 22,000 German soldiers are among those buried around Normandy, and between 4,000 and 9,000 of them were killed, wounded or went missing during the D-Day invasion alone. The two leaders and the prince took a few moments to chat with each of the Canadian veterans following the ceremony, crouching or bending over to get closer and clasping their hands.
Many eventually made their way to Omaha Beach, along a road lined with British, American and Canadian flags alongside the French Tricolour. A crowd of thousands repeatedly rose to applaud veterans as large screens displayed live footage of them taking their seats.In his speech, Macron recounted the sacrifice of the Allied nations on D-Day, and he took the time to describe what the scene would've been like for the Canadians.
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