Speaking Notes for

Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan , P.C., M.P.

59^th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

Honoured Guests, Veterans, ladies and gentlemen:

I am honoured to be with you today to pay my respects to the 2,044 Canadians who rest here at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Canadians who bravely left all they knew in Canada, who bravely went into battle, and who - sadly - would never again see their homes.

On D-Day, 59 years ago today, two chaplains chose a spot of ground -- this spot of ground -- for two men who fell on the first day of the invasion. They were North Nova Scotia Highlanders and were the first two destined for this cemetery. Two of more than 340 that died as a result of the June 6^th invasion. Two who would eventually lie here.

We who have never experienced war cannot know what fears these men felt as they approached the beaches in pitching landing craft, and flew overhead dropping paratroopers and bombs. Ahead of them was what Winston Churchill called, "the most difficult and complicated operation that has ever taken place."

D-Day, after all, was the opening day of the Allies' onslaught to free western Europe from Nazi tyranny. It meant an assault on an "Atlantic Wall" that bristled with steel and concrete-reinforced pillboxes, barbed wire, mines, artillery, machine gun nests, mortar pits and beach obstacles.

Ours were proud regiments that carried names reflecting who they were, or where they came from. Names like the Regina Rifles, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, Le Régiment de la Chaudière and the Fort Garry Horse, to name just a few.

They knew what lay ahead. And yet surely nothing could have really prepared them for the horrendous fire they faced. One of the survivors would later recall those horrific first moments:

"Our commander was a good soldier. The last order I heard from him as our ramp went down was, 'OK boys, let's go.' We hit the water waist deep and men were falling in the water, and then they fell on the beach -- the machine-gun fire was so devastating."

Each of the men who lie here would have a similar story to tell if he had survived the war. Like Gerry Boxall's story. Gerry Boxall of the Regina Rifles. Who died on June 9^th. D-day plus three. Age 24.

A depression-era lad from a small town in Northern Saskatchewan, Boxall gave first aid to his wounded comrades. On the beach. And as they moved inland, he died giving care and comfort to those who fell in front of him. What was most remarkable was discovered later. After he died. In three short days, he had been wounded, not once, or twice, but five times. And each time, he refused to complain or withdraw from the fray. He merely dressed his own wounds and carried on. He sacrificed his life so that others might live.

At the end of the day, the Canadians got further inland than any of the other Allies. Remarkable, but devastating in its human cost. Those who survived remember most - the loss of their friends.

The final lines of a poem, written by Stephen Fowler, read:

"At Beny-sur-Mer they laid us to rest,
the Maple Leaf as the headstone's crest.
The Maple Leaf is our emblem dear!
We wore it proud, we showed no fear,
it protects us as we are lying here . . .
As it's a gentle place to rest."

I think we would all agree that this is indeed a gentle place to rest. Today we recognize not only the victory. But also the sacrifice.

They will never be forgotten.