While several of Summerland鈥檚 veterans were involved in Second World War action just before or after D-Day, at least two from the community were involved in the famous landing.
During the D-Day landings, on June 6, 1944, had troops from Britain, Canada, the United States and 16 other countries sailed across the English Cannel to begin the campaign to gain victory against Germany.
More than 6,900 vessels and 156,000 men landed on five beaches.
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More than 14,000 Canadian soldiers participated. There were 1,074 Canadian casualties, including 359 who died in battle on Juno Beach.
Dick Norris was working on one of the first 10 ships to land at Juno Beach on D-Day.
At the time, he was 19 and the youngest member of the crew of his ship.
Charlie Bernhardt was with the 3rd Canadian Infantry and part of the second wave of soldiers who landed that morning at 10 a.m.
Both men have since been recognized for their efforts on D-Day.
In early 2017鈥� 73 years after the historic landing 鈥� Norris received an award from the French government for his service on D-Day.
鈥淚t is awarded in recognition of your personal involvement in the liberation of our country during World War II,鈥� Nicolas Chapuis, ambassador of France to Canada said in a letter to Norris. 鈥淭hrough you, France remembers the sacrifice of all your compatriots who came to liberate French soil.鈥�
Bernhardt has also received recognition for his part in the D-Day landings.
However, he has said that reflecting on the Second World War and its aftermath is difficult for him as he thinks of those who died in action.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the waste that bothers you,鈥� he said years later. 鈥淓verybody loses in a war. Everybody.鈥�
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