REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRÉTIEN AT THE OPENING OF THE JUNO BEACH CENTRE

 June 6, 2003
Courseulles-sur-Mer, France

I would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. Prime Minister, for honouring us with your presence here today. Your participation in this ceremony, on hallowed ground for both France and Canada, demonstrates that the blood spilled by our soldiers for the liberation of France and Europe has created an unbreakable bond between our two countries

But mostly, it is the brave Canadian soldiers of World War Two, to whom I would like to pay tribute and convey the gratitude of all Canadians. A million of you fought in Europe. Some of you took part in the landing of June 6, 1944. I can only imagine your state of mind as you approached the coast of Normandy, right here at Juno Beach. The danger was extreme, the enemy formidable and well dug in. Facing death, you must have been torn between thoughts of the mission and thoughts of your loved ones: wives, fiancees, children, fathers and mothers.

To get through those dark, anxious moments, I know that each of you was driven by indomitable bravery and determination. Without these magnificent qualities, you would have been unable to accomplish the heroic acts in which Canadians take such pride, acts that we honour here today.

Over 40,000 of your comrades perished in Europe, including 8000 in France. They were never again to see their loved ones nor set foot on Canadian soil. It is with humility and a deep sense of appreciation that we pay tribute to this ultimate sacrifice.

This sacrifice was not in vain. Indeed, not only did your valour deliver us from the spectre of tyranny, but it sealed an alliance that has lasted upwards of fifty years between the free peoples on both sides of the Atlantic. The Second World War and the period which followed taught us that when democracies stand together, they are invincible. And we have seen this partnership flourish and mature to the great benefit of both Europe and North America.

The partnership between our countries has brought us peace and prosperity, and has strengthened our shared values: values like democracy, freedom, and human rights. This bond is strong, profound and endures. At the Juno Beach Centre, our grandchildren and their grandchildren will have a chance to learn about what their forebearers did for the sake of freedom. They will learn about the sacrifices and bravery of Canadian soldiers during World War II.

I understand that it all started when Canadian veterans of D-Day came here with their children and grandchildren to tell their story. They looked at this beautiful landscape and realized that while the acts of valour witnessed on this beach changed the course of history, there was no tangible evidence of what happened that day. The veterans realized that this beach, and that moment in history, needed to be commemorated.

The world needed a memorial so that the memory and the story of Canada's military and civilian contributions and efforts during the Second World War would never be forgotten. Until now, there has been no significant Canadian memorial to mark these achievements, anywhere.

Thanks to a grassroots effort that galvanized Canadians from across the country, the Juno Beach Centre project has come to be. The idea for the centre was developed by a group of World War II veterans who participated in the D-Day landings on June 6th, 1944 and the subsequent battles in Normandy and through Western Europe.

At the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer in Normandy, visitors will learn of the contributions of that generation of Canadians and honour the gifts of valour and freedom that were given by all Canadians who participated. The course of history was altered at Juno Beach and along the Normandy coast after June 6, 1944. We must honour what happened here. We must always remember.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage has designated the Juno Beach landing site to be a site of national historic significance to Canada, and indeed, to the world. It is with the greatest pleasure and utmost pride, that I find myself among you today. I want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of volunteers who are part of the Juno Beach Centre Association. Without their dedication and leadership, we would not be here today. These volunteers have come together as a community to honour our commitment to the past. As a country, we owe a great debt of memory to those who shed their blood on these shores. Seeing so many people here today at the opening of the Juno Beach Centre tells me that we will not break our promise with the fallen, that as a country we will preserve the memory of their deeds. I'd also like to thank MPs John O'Reilly and Paddy Torsney, as well as the late Ron Duhamel for their hard work on this project.

Thank you, veterans, for your valour and your sacrifice. Thank you for mobilizing the private and public sectors behind this worthy cause. Thank you for what you have done for France, Europe, Canada and the world.

Thank you very much.

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