Canada Remembers its Veterans

The 60th anniversaries of D-Day, the Battle of Normandy, and the Italian Campaign will occur in 2004. During the year, Veterans Affairs Canada will highlight the contributions and achievements of our Canadian veterans during these important campaigns.

D-Day/Battle of Normandy Self-identification

Thank you to the many D-Day and Battle of Normandy veterans who have been in touch with us and provided us with their names and addresses. We are using this list to inform veterans, through our D-Day newsletters, of the upcoming events. The first issue of the newsletter was sent out in December 2003 and can be viewed online at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

Please note: This list of veterans is not being used to choose the delegation of veterans who will travel to France as part of our Department's official delegation.

How veterans are selected to travel to France with VAC

Sixty veterans will join the Return to Normandy official delegation led by Veterans Affairs Canada June 1-11, 2004. We have invited the regimental, naval and air force associations of the major units that participated in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy to nominate veterans to join the official VAC delegation. Once VAC receives these nominations, we will need to verify veterans' service and they will be asked to confirm with their doctor that they are medically fit to travel.

Travelling on your own to France?

Many Canadian veterans are making plans to travel on their own to Juno Beach for June 6, 2004. The safety and well-being of all those in attendance are very important to us.

In our second D-Day newsletter (which will be mailed soon), we have included a travel questionnaire for veterans who plan to visit France on their own or with family. The questionnaire will give us a better idea of the number of veterans who want to attend Government of Canada events in France. The information also will be shared with the French Government for security purposes.

D-Day events in Canada

Veterans, their families and other Canadians will be able to participate in events in various parts of the country, marking the anniversaries of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Keep checking our Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca for more details.