Remembering the battle at Juno Beach may not have been a priority for the Canadian government, however honouring the dead and respecting their final resting place is something that was done right. The Canadian War Cemetary at Beny-sur-Mer is located a couple of kilometers inland from Juno Beach and is a beautiful location where the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives during the liberation are cared for and honoured as they should be.
Mindy takes a moment to walk through and review the names on the tombstones of the Canadian soldiers.
As we walked among the graves, one of the things we remarked was that most of the men who died in the war and were buried here in the cemetary were younger then us. We saw markers as young as 18 years old although the majority probably fell between the ages of 20 and 24. It was a sobering thought to think that these young men never had the opportunities that we have had in our lives and that it is only due to their sacrifice that we enjoy the freedoms and experiences that we have today.
Among the graves were what we later confirmed were the graves of two brothers from the Regina Rifles Regiment. Gordon and Ronald Branton died and were buried in Normandy. Gordon, the younger of the two, was killed during the D-Day invasion on June 6th, 1944. His older brother, Ronald, died just over a month later.
Hailing from Lethbridge, Alberta, one can only assume that the Branton brothers were colorful characters as the inscription upon both of their graves reads as follows.
We left with a jest,
our home in the west.
Now here with the best,
we lie at rest.
The graves of all the soldiers are well cared for and the grounds are immaculate. Again, another must see for all Canadians who visit Normandy.
The cemetary at Beny-sur-Mer is the final resting place to over two thousand Canadian soldiers.
1 comment:
This is so amazing - your grandpa would be so proud of all of this.
Post a Comment