EvanL
06-06-2004, 02:00 PM
COURSEULLES-SUR-MER, France (CP) — The Queen, the prime minister and the Governor General spoke today at the Canadian commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. Here are excerpts from their speeches as delivered:
The Queen:
"Britain had been directly threatened by the enemy but you came across the Atlantic from the relative security of your homeland to fight for the freedom of Europe. For Canadians, involved in the fight from its earliest months, the raid on Dieppe was a tragedy but, in retrospect, the lessons learned there proved to be life-savers for many thousands when you came to land in Normandy ... Today we honour all those who gave their lives in this campaign, and all of you who fought in this great struggle. I know that present and future generations join me in thanking all Canadians who took part in this great venture."
Prime Minister Paul Martin:
"Men fell around them. A friend, a brother, someone with whom they had just shared a joke, or a mug of rum, or a tin of soup. Men fell, and still they took the beach. Men fell, and still they took the fortifications. They moved inland. They fought in the streets. They liberated the towns ... Forever more we will come to this lonely patch of beauty to look upon the beaches, to reflect, to marvel, to feel the tears rise and the heart pound, to say a silent thank you. Forever more we will come to this place of sad and triumphant history to see where tyranny was repelled and where freedom was reborn."
Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson:
"Along with your fallen comrades, you cleared the rocky fields of war to sow a harvest of peace. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, you `Gave beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair.' ... It is said that no person is honoured for what he has received. Honour is a reward for what a person has given. Honour is the reward for what you have given. You have Canada's enduring gratitude."
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r661374577.jpg
A Canadian veteran walks along the shores of Juno Beach as piper plays along side following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the 1944 invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r3305687670.jpg
A lone Canadian Armed Forces piper plays during ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Juno Brach in Courseulles sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken on the June 6, 1944 invasion during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r1978788564.jpg
Canadian veterans gather on Juno Beach following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Courseulles sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the 1944 invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r2644901877.jpg
A Canadian veteran takes some time to himself on the waters edge of Juno Beach following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Courseulle sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
The Queen:
"Britain had been directly threatened by the enemy but you came across the Atlantic from the relative security of your homeland to fight for the freedom of Europe. For Canadians, involved in the fight from its earliest months, the raid on Dieppe was a tragedy but, in retrospect, the lessons learned there proved to be life-savers for many thousands when you came to land in Normandy ... Today we honour all those who gave their lives in this campaign, and all of you who fought in this great struggle. I know that present and future generations join me in thanking all Canadians who took part in this great venture."
Prime Minister Paul Martin:
"Men fell around them. A friend, a brother, someone with whom they had just shared a joke, or a mug of rum, or a tin of soup. Men fell, and still they took the beach. Men fell, and still they took the fortifications. They moved inland. They fought in the streets. They liberated the towns ... Forever more we will come to this lonely patch of beauty to look upon the beaches, to reflect, to marvel, to feel the tears rise and the heart pound, to say a silent thank you. Forever more we will come to this place of sad and triumphant history to see where tyranny was repelled and where freedom was reborn."
Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson:
"Along with your fallen comrades, you cleared the rocky fields of war to sow a harvest of peace. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, you `Gave beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair.' ... It is said that no person is honoured for what he has received. Honour is a reward for what a person has given. Honour is the reward for what you have given. You have Canada's enduring gratitude."
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r661374577.jpg
A Canadian veteran walks along the shores of Juno Beach as piper plays along side following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the 1944 invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r3305687670.jpg
A lone Canadian Armed Forces piper plays during ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Juno Brach in Courseulles sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken on the June 6, 1944 invasion during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r1978788564.jpg
Canadian veterans gather on Juno Beach following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Courseulles sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the 1944 invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040606/i/r2644901877.jpg
A Canadian veteran takes some time to himself on the waters edge of Juno Beach following ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of D-Day at Courseulle sur-Mer June 6, 2004. Hundreds of veterans returned to retrace their steps taken during the invasion of Europe during World War II. *******/Andy Clark