INNISFAIL – It was a day Canada will never forget.
Seventy-five years later, Canadians gathered from coast to coast to remember the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Here in Innisfail, veterans, cadets, members of the military, including those in the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion, and the public took a few moments during the evening of June 6 to recall Canada’s most heroic day during the Second World War.
They gathered at the Innisfail Cenotaph for a wreath-laying service and two minutes of silence, along with the reading of the Act of Remembrance and two D-Day poems, read by veteran peacekeeper and legion member Doug Holsworth.
Following the cenotaph service, guests gathered at the legion to hear from guest speaker and historian Michael Dawe.
He shared some facts about D-Day with a local perspective.
“The Canadian troops were widely regarded as being amongst the best trained and best prepared troops under Allied command,” said Dawe. “The invasion was set for Monday, June 5 (1944) to take advantage of a full moon and tide levels. However, due to bad weather, the invasion had to be postponed even though that increased the chances of detection.
“It was a mere miracle the element of surprise was still maintained," he added. "The Germans were highly unprepared for the invasion. They mistakenly thought the bad weather would continue for a couple of weeks, as opposed to having a break on the 6th of June.”
He noted the reaction to the D-Day invasion back home.
“Meanwhile back in Central Alberta, news of the great invasion was greeted with joy but also a great deal of worry and concern,” said Dawe, noting several ceremonies held that day in Red Deer and area.
“In Innisfail, a large crowd gathered at the United Church in the evening for another special prayer service and so many people showed up that most of the people had to stand outside of the church because there wasn’t enough room for them inside.”
Ian Holsworth, 22, of Innisfail, has been serving in the Canadian military for three years. He has been with the First Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Edmonton for about a year and a half.
He was one of many young Canadians remembering soldiers' D-Day sacrifice on June 6.
“I think everyone and all generations need to remember where they got all their freedoms from,” said Holsworth. “I think that everyone should take, if not on Remembrance Day, a few times a year, a step back and remember all those that gave them this privilege."
