A group of about 80 people took part in a memorial service commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day at the Legion Memorial Gardens on Watson Road in Chilliwack on Thursday.
A total of 14,000 Canadians landed or parachuted into Juno Beach on June 6, 1944 during the Battle of Normandy. There were 1,074 Canadian casualties, including 359 deaths.
During the 75th anniversary ceremony in Chilliwack, eight Second World War veterans who currently live here were recognized. They are:
Len Fitzgerald
Walter Georgeson
Warner Hockin
Tom Lambon
Harry Mayne
Bernie McNicholl
Gordon Norrish
Harold Thorpe
Five of the eight veterans were in attendance at the ceremony (Georgeson, Lambon, McNicholl, Norrish and Thorpe).
Warner Hockin is currently in France — he’s one of about 50 Canadian D-Day veterans who were invited to Normandy to visit Juno Beach and commemorate 75 years since the beginning of the end of the Second World War.
READ HOCKIN’S STORY: A Chilliwack veteran recalls war stories before returning to Normandy – June 3, 2019
READ LEN FITZGERALD’S STORY: Chilliwack veteran marks 70 years since D-Day landing – June 4, 2014
RELATED – PETER BRAIDWOOD’S STORY: France honours local paratroopers – Dec. 4, 2014
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