Shelburne Veterans commemorate 70th Anniversary of D–Day

June 12, 2014 · 0 Comments

Proud and true they stood, strong then and strong now, brave as ever there was a man who fought for his country. Now seniors, the Veteran community belonging to the Shelburne Legion 220 Branch held a commemorative ceremony of honor for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, in Normandy, France where strategic manoeuvres and thousands of men both lost their lives and saved the lives of many while changing the face of the war and the future of the world.

So poignant and stoic an occasion, the memories of war still can be seen on the faces of the Veteran seniors just teenagers at the time, some just 17, lying about their age so they could take part in the largest most meaningful, noble fight they could imagine, and now in their 80’s and 90’s know for certain they were right. Remembering the fallen, the magnitude and the gravity of D-Day is an honor and a duty for these men of such fibre and all would admit they would do it again in a heartbeat; they would fight again to save their country.

Shelburne’s Mayor Ed Crewson, MPP Sylvia Jones, Green Party Candidate Karren Wallace, Pastor Reverend Gord Horsley, Past President of the Legion 220 Branch , Liz Whitten also attended the sombre occasion filled with emotion and memories for the Veterans who gathered.

By Alex Sher

(L to R) Green Party Candidate, Karren Wallace, MPP Sylvia Jones, and Mayor Ed Crewson share a sombre moment during the commemorative ceremony honoring the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Shelburne Legion 220 Branch on June 6th.

New Shelburne Legion 220 Branch President, Lesa Peat hosted her first ceremony on June 6th honoring the 70th Anniversary of D–Day, beams with pride for her Veteran members.

Reverend Gord Horsley provided prayers and comforting words to his beloved community of Veterans at the Shelburne Legion 220 Branch during the ceremony sombre ceremony honoring D–Day Veterans.

At almost 91 years of age, Veteran David Barr served from 1942-1946 in the 6th Group Bomber Command, touring 30 missions while stationed in England. The LaFlesche, Saskatchewan native reports he joined the Air Force because it was the right thing to do. “The Air Force was very good to me and military life was very good for me,” commented Barr. When discharged, Barr bought a farm in Mono, married, raised four children and resides there to this day. When asked if he would do it all again, Barr responds with a spark in his eyes and fight still in his heart, “Yah! In a minute!” Barr can be seen reciting In Flanders Field at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O19g1xoGlTc