D-Day veteran will raise flag at Summerland Canada Day Picnic

One of the few remaining veterans at the Summerland Legion will raise the national flag on July 1 at the Memorial Park Canada Day Picnic.

According to past legion president John Dorn, Dick Norris, who served in the Canadian Navy during World War II, will do the honours at 11 a.m.

“He was actually one of the very first to land at Juno Beach on D-Day,” Dorn said of Norris. “He joined up when he was 17 years old.”

MLA Dan Ashton, MP Dan Albas and Mayor Toni Boot will also be in attendance.

“Each will say a few words,” he said.

Before the ceremony, the Kiwanis Club will provide breakfast, starting at 8:30 a.m.

For lunch, after the ceremony, Dorn said the legion will once again be frying burgers and grilling hot dogs.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Branch 22 will be providing cake and ice cream.

Several activities will then continue until about 1:30 p.m., including a bouncy castle and sparkle tattoos.

The Girl Guides will also be organizing some picnic games, such as tug of war and three-legged race.

“The whole thing is by donation,” Dorn said, adding that they are expecting between 400 and 500 people at the event.

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