Veterans Plan Protest On D-Day Anniversary

While many in the United States, France, England and other Allied nations of World War II are marking today with somber remembrance of those who died on D-Day during the invasion of Normandy 68 years ago, some veterans in Canada are planning a protest.

CBC News reports that the Canadian Veterans Advocacy group’s leader, Michael Blais, wants to honor the soldiers who fought and died on D-Day, but also wanted to call attention to how veterans today are treated much differently.

“We wanted to highlight the significance of D-Day, and highlight the significance of the manner that this nation once treated its veterans and compare against the veterans who are covered against the new veterans charter,” Blais told CBC.

Master Cpl. Jody Mitic, according to CBC, was on patrol in Afghanistan with his sniper team when he stepped on a mine, losing his feet. Mitic is now like many veterans in Canada concerned as to what kind of coverage he will receive.

“They (WW2 Vets) were the generation of soldiers that really put the veteran in the spotlight,” said Mitic.

Canadian troops in WW2 fought the Nazis with American, French and British soldiers among a 50-mile stretch of beach along the French coast on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Though the attack was a success, by the end of the first day more than 9,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives. The attack however spring-boarded the Allied cause and would lead to the downfall of Nazi Germany.

The International Business Times reports that the Normandy beaches and related sites today are a place of pilgrimage. Utah beach, Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery draw many veterans and their families to pay tribute for those who died in the D-Day invasion.

The cemetery is comprised of white crosses marking the graves, and more than 9,000 Americans, many who died on D-Day, are interred there.

(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)