A celebration to honor the 80 anniversary of D-Day is taking place on Saturday June 8 at 10 a.m. at the Branch 256 Legion at 1630 East Wellington Rd. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

D-Day

‘Gave us the ultimate gift:’ D-Day celebrations at Nanaimo Legion for 80th anniversary

Jun 8, 2024 | 5:59 AM

NANAIMO — A local legion is honouring the 80 anniversary of Operation Overlord, the largest land, air and sea operation in military history, also known as the Battle of Normandy or D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces, including Canada, landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, kicking off the campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Gary Robertson, veteran liaison officer at Nanaimo’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256, said time doesn’t diminish the importance of that day.

“It is the reason why… I can go to whatever church or synagogue that I want to visit because they gave us the freedom that we enjoy today, and this is what we like to do…honouring those who gave us that freedom.”

Branch 256 is honouring the anniversary with a special public ceremony on Saturday, June 8 at 1630 East Wellington Rd., starting at 10 a.m.

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Included in the ceremonial tribute is the Pacific Gael Pipe band, a colour party and wreath laying at the Legion’s cenotaph, as well as a scheduled flyover by the Royal Canadian Air Force Search and Rescue squadron.

An open house and light lunch at the Legion will follow.

Flags are already at half-mast at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256 on East Wellington Rd. in Nanaimo to honour June 6, the 80 anniversary of D-Day. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Speakers at the event include historian Gavin Cooper and retired CWO Anton “Tony” Pearson, an actual veteran of the D-Day invasion.

Robertson said it’s an incredible honour to have Pearson in attendance as there are so few veterans of the Second World War remaining, with Pearson being involved in the liberation of Holland.

“Anybody that knows the history of the Second World War the Dutch were liberated by the Canadians. On Remembrance Day, and apparently on D-Day, school children in the Netherlands place flags on the headstones of the Canadian service personnel that are buried there.”

Robertson, whose veteran father-in-law helped transport troops in carrier ships to the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, said a lot of them had no idea the significance of the mission they were a part of that day.

“It was very important. How do you celebrate those who gave us the ultimate gift on that day? We like to remember those who have given us the freedom that we enjoy today.”

Branch 256 has chosen 2024 as the Year of Remembrance and is planning a number of celebrations throughout the year.

Their next scheduled ceremony to commemorate the Korean War armistice is on July 27th.

For more information on the D-Day event happening at Branch 256, you can give them a call at 250-754-8128.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNOW